News

Canada braces for Hurricane Fiona after a week of lashing wind and rain in Caribbean |


The World Meteorological Organization said: “Fiona is expected to affect parts of Atlantic Canada as a tornado of strong hurricane strength…significant impacts from high winds, high tides and precipitation. Heavy rain is possible,” the World Meteorological Organization said (WMO) spokesperson Clare Nullis.

‘Swimming and tearing’

The United Nations agency notes that “possibly life-threatening waves and water” currents over the next few days will also be along much of the east coast of the United States, the Bahamas, Bermuda and the east coast of Canada. .

At least five deaths are attributed to the storm that made landfall in Puerto Rico last Sunday. Aid agencies said torrential rain and significant damage included power outages, landslides, fallen trees and power lines rendering roads impassable and causing a bridge to collapse in a mountainous area .

“(In) Puerto Rico, more than 40 percent of the island is covered by 15 inches of rain, which is 380 mm,” Nullis said. “Up to 32 inches, which is 800 mm in 48 hours in some parts. I mean, these are just torrential downpours. “

Path of Destruction

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) meanwhile reported that Hurricane Fiona made landfall in the Turks and Caicos Islands as a Category 3 hurricane on Tuesday, before making landfall in the Bahamas and then turning towards Bermuda.

“Before that, however, Fiona had left a significant impact on Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, with mudslides, property damage, and widespread power outages,” said Regis Chapman, the Office’s Country Manager. WFP Multinational in the Caribbean, speaking from Bridgetown. , Barbados.

He added that the latest assessments indicate that the situation “can be addressed by different governments” but highlight the chronic vulnerability of low-Caribbean island states, when faced with face the annual storm season.


A boy stands on a bridge over the Sanate River in Higuey, one of the provinces hardest hit when Hurricane Fiona made landfall in the Dominican Republic.

© UNICEF / Ricardo Rojas

A boy stands on a bridge over the Sanate River in Higuey, one of the provinces hardest hit when Hurricane Fiona made landfall in the Dominican Republic.

Be prepared

“Fiona is a reminder that all of the Caribbean must be prepared to face any degree of impact from hurricanes, and essentially the nations and people here of the world have spent about half a month for a blade, wondering if this is their year. “

The devastation caused by Fiona in Puerto Rico comes five years after Hurricane Maria caused extensive damage and loss of life there, with an official death toll of 65 and an unknown death toll. .

Maria was a Category 4 hurricane upon arrival in Puerto Rico, the strongest hurricane to hit the island since 1928 and by far the most destructive hurricane, the WMO noted. The entire island lost power and was restored to just over half of the population after the storm, while water supplies and communication networks were also severely affected.

According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Maria caused $90 billion worth of damage in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, becoming the third-most damaging hurricane in history. United States, after Katrina (2005) and Harvey (also in 2017).



Source link

news7f

News7F: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button