Hurricane Fiona Update: 1000 People Rescued in Puerto Rico Amid Major Flooding, Storm Crashes into Dominican Republic

Hurricane Fiona has ripped through not only Puerto Rico, but also several other countries in the Caribbean, including the Dominican Republic. As the storm ravages the region, emergency crews have managed to rescue around 1,000 people in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, the storm has also led to catastrophic damages, with several houses now destroyed.

A local business owner from San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, spoke to CNN and stated that the situation is "unbelievable." He stated that while Maria had stronger winds, Fiona had heavier rainfall and it "just destroyed everything in the house." The man also stated that Fiona had done more damage because of the flooding than Maria ever did five years ago.

Major General Jose Reyes of the Puerto Rico National Guard recently spoke about the rescue efforts to the press. Around 1,000 people have now been rescued, but the intense rain is expected to produce more catastrophic flooding and mudslides.

Meanwhile, New York has pledged to send 100 first responders to Puerto Rico, as soon as the weather allows it. Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi also stated that the governors of New Jersey and California have also pledged to help. The governor also told CNN that two people have already been confirmed dead following the storm's wake.

Pres. Joe Biden Speaks With Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi

According to the Washington Post, Governor Pierluisi has now spoken to President Joe Biden. The president has already promised federal support for the U.S. territory as hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans, who are still U.S. citizens, have no electricity or access to potable water.

Biden spoke to the governor via a phone call from Airforce One. He was on his way back home to the United States after attending the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London.

The White House has also promised that FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will travel to Puerto Rico on Tuesday. He will be meeting with state and local officials, as well as ordinary citizens, in order to assess the situation on the island.

Over 300 federal personnel are already assisting with response and recovery efforts within Puerto Rico. However, Biden promised to increase that number "substantially" within the coming days, according to a White House statement.

The Dominican Republic Also Hit Hard by Hurricane Fiona

While things are rough in Puerto Rico, things are also getting tough in the nearby Dominican Republic. Hurricane Fiona first slammed into the community of Boca de Yuma early Monday with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph.

The storm has already placed 59 aqueducts out of service, while over 1 million people are now without running water. 54 homes have also been confirmed to be damaged so far, while 789 people have been transported to safety. Over 500 people are now housed in shelters as well.

There are also power outages in this Caribbean country, with ten electric circuits currently offline as the storm raves the area. Life-threatening flash flooding and urban flooding have been forecast for the country's eastern parts.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Hurricane Fiona 'worse than Maria': Puerto Rico resident to CNN - CNN