Current:Home > MyBattered by Hurricane Fiona, this is what a blackout looks like across Puerto Rico -WealthSphere Pro
Battered by Hurricane Fiona, this is what a blackout looks like across Puerto Rico
View
Date:2025-04-14 21:20:13
Hurricane Fiona made landfall in the Dominican Republic on Monday morning, as millions in Puerto Rico face flash flooding, mudslides and an island-wide blackout.
The National Hurricane Center warned that the Category 1 hurricane is moving into the Atlantic and is likely to strengthen. Fiona, which is traveling with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, is forecast to travel near or east of the Turks and Caicos Islands as early as Monday night.
In Puerto Rico, the full extent of the damage is still unclear as the storm has unleashed torrential rains across much of the island, causing massive flooding and landslides. Island officials have said that some roads, bridges and other infrastructure have been damaged or washed away as a result of the downpour.
Most of the island also remains without power, according to utility companies' reports tracked by PowerOutage.us. More than 775,000 residents also have no access to clean water.
The latest hurricane to batter the U.S. territory, Fiona struck two days before the fifth anniversary of Maria, the devastating storm that killed more than 3,000 people and nearly destroyed the island's electricity system.
On Monday, Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi called the damages to the island's housing and fragile infrastructure from the Category 1 storm "catastrophic."
"In many areas, flooding is worse than what we saw during Hurricane Maria," Pierluisi said during a press briefing.
"So far we've gotten about 30 inches of rain, even in areas where they had never experienced flooding," he added.
Heavy rainfall and life-threatening flooding risks are expected to last through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. The saturation "will also continue to trigger mudslides and rockfall in areas of steep terrain."
Fiona's powerful winds and the subsequent deluge of rainfall knocked out the island's power grid, throwing the island into a blackout. Officials have said it will take several days to fully restore service to over a million residents.
Shortly after the hurricane struck on Sunday, Pierluisi said it would be a "matter of days," and not months, to fully restore the grid — referring to the drawn-out power restoration after Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Since then, the island's power crews were able to restore electricity to about 100,000 customers living in the northeast region near the capital San Juan, Luma Energy, the island's private electric utility, wrote on Facebook.
President Biden has approved an emergency declaration for Puerto Rico on Sunday, authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts.
Adrian Florido contributed reporting.
veryGood! (34)
Related
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- Scottie Scheffler arrested for allegedly assaulting officer near fatal crash while on way to PGA Championship
- Q&A: The Dire Consequences of Global Warming in the Earth’s Oceans
- Giuliani becomes final defendant served indictment among 18 accused in Arizona fake electors case
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- An abortion rights initiative makes the ballot in conservative South Dakota
- Landslide forces closure of iconic Southern California chapel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright’s son
- West Side Books and Curios: Denver’s choice spot for vintage titles
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Missouri inmate facing execution next month is hospitalized with heart problem
Ranking
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- U.S. governors urge Turks and Caicos to release Americans as Florida woman becomes 5th tourist arrested for ammo in luggage
- Shawn Johnson Reveals 2-Year-Old Son Jett Loved This About His Emergency Room Visit
- Man accused of shooting Slovak prime minister had political motivation, minister says
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- The making of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
- Authorities Address Disturbing Video Appearing to Show Sean Diddy Combs Assaulting Cassie
- 'Scene is still active': Movie production crew finds woman fatally shot under Atlanta overpass
Recommendation
Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
Scottie Scheffler arrested for allegedly assaulting officer near fatal crash while on way to PGA Championship
A man killed by Phoenix police in a shootout was a suspect in a fatal shooting hours earlier
Indy 500 qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway: How it works, when to watch, entries
San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
What the 'Young Sheldon' finale means: From Jim Parsons' Sheldon return to the last moment
Families of Mexican farmworker bus crash victims mourn the loss of their loved ones
Photos and videos capture damage as strong storm slams Houston: 'Downtown is a mess'