Quake in Puerto Rico causes structural, power issues, but hospitals functional in hard-hit region

Earthquake killed at least one person and causing a power outage across the island


A 6.4-magnitude quake in Puerto Rico has killed at least one person, caused a power outage across the island and structural damage to roads and bridges especially in the southwestern region, according to an article on the NBC News website.

Ponce Mayor María "Mayita" Meléndez told NBC News that the municipality is putting up tents in open areas and parks for people looking for refuge, away from structures that could collapse. According to her, five hospitals in the area are functional.

There have been at least 51 aftershocks since the earthquake, the largest in a series of quakes. 

Ponce, one of the island's largest cities, has no power, intermittent access to water and is grappling with landslides affecting its main highway.

Read the article.



January 13, 2020


Topic Area: Safety


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