Puerto Rico News

US Official Says Pace of Federal Recovery Funds for Puerto Rico Speeding Up

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The newly appointed U.S. official charged with overseeing disaster recovery in Puerto Rico said Tuesday that while the pace of federally funded projects to help hurricane and earthquake victims has quickened, he’s worried about long …

Puerto Rico Opens Only 20% of Schools Amid Ongoing Quakes

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico opened only 20% of its public schools on Tuesday following a strong earthquake that delayed the start of classes by nearly three weeks as fears linger over the safety of students. Only 177 …

Displaced Families Await Post-Quake Housing in Puerto Rico

PONCE, Puerto Rico — The Antonetti family sat in the shade of a tree eating orange slices while contemplating the long day ahead of them in a dusty parking lot in southern Puerto Rico. Behind them stood their temporary home: …

Experts: Earthquake Showed Puerto Rico Unprepared for Catastrophe

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — More than two years ago, Hurricane Maria revealed that Puerto Rico was utterly unprepared for a powerful hurricane despite its location in one of the world’s most storm-vulnerable regions. Now, a flurry of earthquakes topped …

Puerto Rico Earthquake Aftermath Deepens as Government Seeks Help

SAN JUAN — More than 2,000 people in shelters. Nearly one million without power. Hundreds of thousands without water. The aftermath of a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that killed one person, injured nine others and severely damaged infrastructure in Puerto Rico’s southwest …

Puerto Ricans Left Homeless After Biggest Quake in a Century

GUANICA, Puerto Rico — Cars, cots and plastic chairs became temporary beds for hundreds of families who lost their homes in southwest Puerto Rico as a flurry of earthquakes struck the island, one of them the strongest in a century. …

Homes Damaged by 5.8-Magnitude Quake in Puerto Rico

GUANICA, Puerto Rico — A 5.8-magnitude quake hit Puerto Rico before dawn Monday, unleashing small landslides, causing power outages and severely cracking some homes. It was one of the strongest quakes yet to hit the U.S. territory that has been …

FEMA Officials Charged With Puerto Rico Hurricane Aid Fraud

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials who oversaw the reconstruction of Puerto Rico’s electrical grid and the former president of Cobra Acquisitions were arrested on fraud and conspiracy charges linked to recovery efforts from Hurricane Maria, according to federal prosecutors. FEMA’s …

Update: Hurricane Dorian Gathers Force As It Heads for Florida

Dorian is gathering force as it aims to become the first major hurricane to slam into the Florida’s east coast in 15 years, with winds of at least 115 miles per hour and drenching rains. The hurricane’s center was located …

Dorian Set to Lash Puerto Rico Before Hitting Florida Coast

Tropical Storm Dorian is about to lash Puerto Rico with torrential rains, and then is expected to gain strength and become the first major hurricane to hit Florida’s east coast in 15 years. Chances are increasing that the storm will …