As Fiona approaches and poses a possibility of historic rainfall, anxiety is at an all-time high in Puerto Rico.
PC Credit: Google
As Tropical Storm Fiona approached Sunday afternoon, Puerto Ricans prepared for strong winds and heavy rain with the anticipation that the storm might intensify into a hurricane before making landfall on the country's southern shore.
PC Credit: Google
"Historic" rainfall amounts of up to 20 inches were predicted in some isolated places, according to forecasters, and were expected to cause landslides and severe flooding.
PC Credit: Google
Emergency management commissioner for Puerto Rico Nino Correa said, "It's time to act and be concerned."
PC Credit: Google
Late on Saturday, Fiona's centre was 150 miles (240 kilometres) southeast of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 8 mph (13 kph).
PC Credit: Google
With some schools still closed and debris to be cleared, the storm was predicted to wreak havoc on towns
PC Credit: Google
and communities along Puerto Rico's southern coast that are still recuperating from a series of powerful earthquakes that struck the area starting in late 2019.
PC Credit: Google
By Saturday night, more than 100 individuals had taken refuge on the island, the most of them in Guayanilla, a city on the southernmost coast.
PC Credit: Google
PC Credit: Google