Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi said Monday that Hurricane Fiona has caused “catastrophic” destruction in urban areas, killing at least one person and leaving almost the entire island archipelago without power.
The slow-moving Category 1 storm could dump more than 30 inches of rain, the National Hurricane Center said. Heavy rains are flooding rivers, causing landslides and destroying houses, roads and bridges. The governor estimated “billions” in damage and warned that rain is expected to continue falling through Tuesday night.
Fiona hit two days before the fifth anniversary of Maria, the Category 4 storm that left Puerto Rico in the dark for months, killing more than 3,000 people. The federal government has set aside billions for reconstruction, but the slow recovery has left communities in the territory vulnerable.
