Hurricane Fiona gains strength after devastating Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic

Hurricane Fiona continues to increase its strength and reached level 4 after devastating Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. At least five people are confirmed dead (two in Puerto Rico, two in the Dominican Republic and one in Guadeloupe), causing severe property damage.

Puerto Rico, in addition to mourning the loss of two lives, more than 90% of the population is still without power after the total blackout caused by the storm on Sunday. Only 115,000 people (out of a population of 1,400,000) have had their electricity restored. The outages are expected to be resolved "in the next few days," according to Governor Pedro Pierluisi.

More than one million people without electricity in Puerto Rico

Pierluisi stressed that this hurricane has reached the island which is "much more prepared" than it was four years ago, when María (force 4) devastated the island. For example, Puerto Rico now has four emergency warehouses instead of one, consequently, supply has not been a problem this time. However, these improvements did not extend the electrical system:

According to the governor, the main problems have been caused by the heavy and persistent rains, which make it impossible for the moment to make an accurate assessment of the situation. Rains are predicted to continue, at least, throughout the day.

Access to potable water, the main problem in the Dominican Republic

In the Dominican Republic, in addition to one death, the greatest damage has been caused to access to drinking water. More than one million Dominicans are unable to reach it. In addition, 709,272 people have suffered power outages. For the time being, the government has not provided information on whether the failure is being rectified.

President Luis Abidaner has declared three provinces as disaster areas, although he acknowledged that they have not yet been able to make a realistic assessment of the damage, he said that "it is substantial". In the latest report, the executive stated that 12,485 people have been displaced, 1 ,047 are in shelters and 2,497 houses have been damaged. Eight provinces are in a state of emergency.

First major hurricane of the season

According to meteorologists, Fiona has already reached the category of major hurricane, becoming the first 'major' of the season. The winds, which were up to 175 km/h when passing through the islands, now exceed 185 km/h, which means an increase in category and destructive capacity.

The experts indicate that it will continue its path towards the north. After its arrival in Turks and Caicos, they warn the Bermuda Islands, where it could arrive on Thursday night or early Friday morning, and the Labrador Peninsula for strong waves. They also predict that its incorporation into the polar jet will be violent and fast, so that the meteorological changes that it will produce could reach Europe, causing a large planetary trough to descend over it.