Puerto Rico:

Status: 09/19/2022 10:33 AM

Hurricane Fiona completely collapsed the power supply on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. A state of emergency has been declared on US soil. Now the Dominican Republic is also taking precautions.

Hurricane Fiona made landfall in Puerto Rico, causing flooding across most of the Caribbean island. This was announced by the US Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida – and issued a warning for US territories in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

“These levels of rainfall will cause life-threatening flooding and urban flooding in Puerto Rico and parts of eastern Dominican Republic, as well as mudslides and landslides at higher elevations,” she added. US President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in the US.

Pictures on social media showed falling trees, flooding and rescue operations. Governor Pedro Pierluisi wrote that the state of emergency was not over yet.

Speeds up to 140 km/h

“I urge people to stay home,” said William Miranda Torres, mayor of the city of Caguas in the north of the island. At least one major landslide has been reported there. The cyclone also tore down a bridge in the central mountain town of Ottoado. According to the police, this was after Hurricane Maria in 2017 Established by the National Guard.

According to the US National Hurricane Center, Fiona made landfall 25 kilometers southeast of the coastal city of Mayaguez. The maximum wind speed was 140 kilometers per hour and moved in a northwesterly direction. Thick clouds hung over the entire island. It is said that the storm was felt 220 kilometers away.

Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic was preparing for “Fiona”. The hurricane gained strength over the Atlantic Ocean and was upgraded to a hurricane on its way to Puerto Rico.

Power outages can last for days

Fiona had already caused a complete blackout on the Caribbean island before the hurricane arrived. “The power grid is currently out of service due to the effects of the hurricane,” Governor Pierluisi said on social media. According to electricity provider Luma Energy, it may take several days for the power supply to be fully restored. The wind tore the wires, causing power outages across the island.

Even before the storm, power had repeatedly failed in Puerto Rico, which also led to demonstrations. Unreliable power supply has long been a problem in the US metropolitan area.

Puerto Rico, an island with a population of just over three million, is often hit by storms during hurricane season. Hurricane Maria in particular had severe consequences in 2017, and claimed nearly 3,000 lives. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June to November.

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