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BBC News Brazil Hurricane Fiona left millions without electricity and created ‘catastrophic flooding’ in Puerto Rico 18/09/2022 20:18

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The storm made landfall near Punta Tocón in the southwest of the island, and the US National Hurricane Center has issued a flash flood warning in the Dominican Republic.

Tropical Storm Fiona (19/9) became a hurricane on Sunday, causing a general power outage in Puerto Rico that affected more than 3.3 million people.

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The information was published by Luma Energy, the company responsible for electricity transmission, and announced that it “could take several days” to fully restore service.

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The electricity company announced that the system was disconnected when the wind reached 140 km/h.

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Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico along the southwest coast, near Punta Tocón, at 3:20 p.m. local time (14:20 GMT).

The US National Hurricane Center warned of “catastrophic flooding” in Puerto Rico as Fiona en route to the Dominican Republic.

Both areas have been notified that the hurricane has passed, and local authorities have activated their safety protocols.

The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands posted a hurricane watch on Sunday and are putting evacuation plans in place as officials warned that Fiona’s impact is now inevitable.

The warning was issued for the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, including Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked, Samana Cay, Long Cay and Ragged.

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shelters

The San Juan Weather Service, the capital of Puerto Rico, warned that flash flooding could occur “in streams, highways and streets, as well as in low-lying, poorly drained urban areas.”

Authorities also urged Puerto Ricans to seek shelter to avoid a disaster.

“We urge residents of the most critical areas not to leave their homes or to gather in government-provided shelters if they live in areas at risk of landslides or flooding,” said Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi.

Puerto Rico was one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Maria in 2017, which destroyed much of the country’s energy infrastructure.

Even after five years, power supply problems continue.

According to the EFE news agency, there are already around 800 people in some shelters organized by the authorities.

All ports were closed and flights from the island’s main airport were cancelled.

Governor Pierluisi also announced that there will be no classes in public schools on Monday (20/9) and that only civil servants working in basic services will have to go to work.

In response, US President Joe Biden declared a federal emergency in Puerto Rico, the Associated State of the United States.

09/18/2022 20:18

source: Noticias

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