Current:Home > MarketsBattered by Hurricane Fiona, this is what a blackout looks like across Puerto Rico -Wealth Evolution Experts
Battered by Hurricane Fiona, this is what a blackout looks like across Puerto Rico
View
Date:2025-04-18 01:47:52
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! (43)
Related
- How effective is the Hyundai, Kia anti-theft software? New study offers insights.
- U.S. ambassador visits Paul Whelan, American imprisoned in Russia
- Ransomware attacks are hitting small businesses. These are experts' top defense tips
- Bad Bunny Appears to Diss Kendall Jenner's Ex Devin Booker in New Song
- A steeplechase record at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Then a proposal. (He said yes.)
- Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes Run NYC Half Marathon Together After GMA3 Exit
- Is Ted Lasso Ending After Season 3? Everything the Cast and Creators Have Said About the Finale
- Jill Biden arrives solo in London for King Charles' coronation
- FBI: California woman brought sword, whip and other weapons into Capitol during Jan. 6 riot
- Why Prince Harry will be at King Charles III's coronation without his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex
Ranking
- Tony Hawk drops in on Paris skateboarding and pushes for more styles of sport in LA 2028
- Crowds gather ahead of coronation of King Charles III
- Meet the new GDP prototype that tracks inequality
- Chris Kirkpatrick Shares Which NSYNC Member is the Surprisingly Least Active in the Group Chat
- Big Lots store closures could exceed 300 nationwide, discount chain reveals in filing
- Escaping Sudan brings fear and joy for a young American evacuee as she leaves loved ones behind
- Apple warns of security flaws in iPhones, iPads and Macs
- Sephora 24-Hour Flash Sale: 50% Off Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, It Cosmetics, Kate Somerville, and More
Recommendation
Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
Amid the hype, they bought crypto near its peak. Now, they cope with painful losses
16 Fashion Fixes You Never Knew You Needed
Biden has $52 billion for semiconductors. Today, work begins to spend that windfall
Bodycam footage shows high
Bruce Willis' Wife Emma Heming Feeling Grief and Sadness on Actor's Birthday Amid His Health Battle
Serbia school shooting leaves 8 students and a guard dead as teen student held as suspect
A former CIA engineer is convicted in a massive theft of secrets released by WikiLeaks