Foreign Affairs
Massive Dam Failure In Puerto Rico Is Imminent
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The National Weather Service (NWS) warned Friday afternoon that a dam in the western part of Puerto Rico is in imminent danger of failing, and residents are quickly being evacuated.
“We still don’t have a lot of information,” Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló told CNN Thursday. “We’re virtually disconnected in terms of communications with the southeast part of the island.”
215PM FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for A Dam Failure in Isabela Municipality y Quebradillas Municipality in Puerto Rico… #prwx pic.twitter.com/L3utOjxspR
— NWS San Juan (@NWSSanJuan) September 22, 2017
At 210 PM, dam operators reported the Guajataca Dam is failing causing flash flooding downstream on the Rio Guajataca. #PRWX
— NWS San Juan (@NWSSanJuan) September 22, 2017
The NWS has said the situation is “extremely dangerous.”
This is an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. Busses are currently evacuating people from the area as quickly as they can #prwx
— NWS San Juan (@NWSSanJuan) September 22, 2017
Busses are currently evacuating two towns, the Associated Press reports.
BREAKING: National Weather Service says Guatajaca Dam is failing in western Puerto Rico, buses evacuating population of two towns.
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 22, 2017
Puerto Rico is recovering after Hurricane Maria tore over the island Wednesday, knocking out the island’s entire power grid. Because the only electricity on the island is coming from generators, the damage has been hard to assess. The storm also knocked out part of the island’s telecommunications.
So far, six people are confirmed dead because of the storm, The Washington Post reports.
Rosselló said the island’s infrastructure was in need of repair before the storm hit.
“I’m afraid [damage to infrastructure is] probably going to be severe,” he said.
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