Caguas, Puerto Rico: Hurricane Fiona left dozens of families stranded across Puerto Rico after smashing roads and bridges, with authorities still struggling to reach people four days after the storm smacked the U.S. territory, causing historic flooding.
For now, government officials are working with religious groups, nonprofits, and others braving landslides, thick mud, and broken asphalt by foot to provide food, water, and medicine for people in need. Still, they are under pressure to clear a path so vehicles can enter isolated areas soon.
Nino Correa, the commissioner for Puerto Rico’s emergency management agency, estimated that at least six municipalities across the island had areas that were cut off by Fiona, which struck as a Category 1 hurricane and was up to Category 4 power Wednesday as it headed toward Bermuda.
Living in one of those areas is Manuel Veguilla, who has not been able to leave his neighborhood in the northern mountain town of Caguas since Fiona swept in on Sunday.
“We are all isolated,” he said, adding that he worries about elderly neighbors including his older brother who does not have the strength for the long walk it takes to reach the closest community.
Veguilla heard that municipal officials might open a pathway this week, but he doubted that would happen because he said large rocks covered a nearby bridge and the 10-foot space beneath it.
