Hurricane Fiona leaves destruction in Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic
Hurricane Fiona continued on its raging path of destruction on Monday, leaving hundreds without power and water in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
The storm knocked 59 aqueducts out of service in the Dominican Republic, leaving over one million people without running water, reports CNN. Over 50 homes have been reported damaged, and over 500 people are currently in emergency shelters. The storm's 90mph winds have also caused mudslides that damaged highways and resorts in the area. The destruction has raised concerns about the Dominican Republic's tourism industry, especially as it recovers from the pandemic, The New York Times writes. There are currently no reported casualties. Just under a thousand people have been evacuated from the area.
Puerto Rico, meanwhile, is dealing with intense flooding and widespread power outages. Many are comparing the aftermath of this storm to that of Hurricane Maria, which blew through the island around this same time five years ago. Multiple deaths have been reported nationwide, including two from emergency shelters and one from the island of Culebra. The two shelter deaths were said to be from "natural casues," per Gov. Pedro Pierluisi (D). Puerto Rico is currently focused on rescuing people from the affected areas, as well as restoring power to the island, The Washington Post reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"It's important that when we rebuild after these [disasters], we're rebuilding for the future, not what's happened in the past," Craig Fugate, former Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator told CNN of any subsequent recovery effects.
Hurricane Fiona is expected to head towards Turks and Caicos on Tuesday.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
At least 95 dead in Spain flash floods
Speed Read Torrential rainfall caused the country's worst flooding since 1996
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Cuba roiled by island-wide blackouts, Hurricane Oscar
Speed Read The country's power grid collapsed for the fourth time in just two days
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Wildlife populations drop a 'catastrophic' 73%
Speed Read The decline occurred between 1970 and 2020
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Floridians flee oncoming Hurricane Milton
Speed Read The hurricane is expected to cause widespread damage in the state
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Beryl kills 4, knocks out power to 2.7M in Texas
Speed Read Millions now face sweltering heat without air conditioning
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Dangerous' Hurricane Beryl stalks Caribbean
Speed Read Beryl has strengthened from a tropical storm into a Category 4
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
At least 23 dead in weekend of severe storms
Speed Read Extreme weather hit Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Virginia hard
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arid Gulf states hit with year's worth of rain
Speed Read The historic flooding in Dubai is tied to climate change
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published