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Floods in Puerto Rico
Photo: Stephanie Rojas/AP
The hurricane had gained strength over the Atlantic and had been upgraded to a hurricane on its way to Puerto Rico: "Fiona" made landfall.
This was announced by the US hurricane center in Miami, Florida on Sunday.
Accordingly, the wind speeds have increased continuously since the morning.
"Fiona" then reached the southwest coast of the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico near Punta Tocón with wind speeds of up to 140 kilometers per hour.
The power on the island went out completely.
"The power grid is currently out of service due to the impact of the hurricane," Governor Pedro Pierluisi wrote on social media.
According to the electricity provider Luma Energy, it could take several days to restore power.
The hurricane center warned of torrential rain and mudslides for the US territory of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
“These levels of rainfall will cause life-threatening flash floods and urban flooding in Puerto Rico and parts of the eastern Dominican Republic, as well as mudslides and landslides in higher areas.” The Turks and Caicos Islands are also experiencing significant rainfall and strong winds set to.
Again and again storms rage over Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico's ports and main airport are closed, various emergency shelters have been set up, and US President Joe Biden has declared a state of emergency for the outskirts.
As a result, the US authorities can also better help coordinate the countermeasures.
Puerto Rico, an island of just over three million people, is often subject to storms during hurricane season.
Hurricane Maria in particular had devastating consequences in 2017 and claimed around 3,000 lives.
The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June to November.
jok/dpa