Hurricane Fiona Strengthens to Category 3 Storm After Hitting Puerto Rico

Mar. 15, 2025

Hurricane Fiona has intensified into a Category 3 storm and is headed to the Turks and Caicos Islands, one day after the storm caused at least two deaths, and widespread damage and power outages in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

According to theNational Hurricane Center, the storm is strengthening, moving toward the north-northwest at 10 mph as of Tuesday morning, and it will approach Grand Turk and the other eastern Turks and Caicos in “the next few hours.”

With maximum sustained winds currently near 115 mph, it could become a Category 4 storm in the next few days, according toNBC News.

On Monday, Puerto Rican Gov. Pedro Pierluisi estimated “billions” in damages and alerted residents that rain over the island is expected to continue through Tuesday evening,The Washington Postreported.

Downed power lines in Cayey, Puerto Rico, which awoke to a general power outage Monday from Hurricane Fiona.Jose Jimenez/Getty

Pierluisi said at a news conference that more than 1,000 stranded residents in 25 municipalities had been rescued, and he urged others to remain indoors,The New York Timesreported.

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“We are going through a difficult moment but our people are strong and very generous,” he said, according toABC News.

Stephanie Rojas/AP/Shutterstock

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Early Monday morning, more than 1.3 million Puerto Rican customers were without electricity, according toPowerOutage.us.

President Joe Bidenapproved anemergency declarationon Sunday, directing federal agencies to coordinate disaster relief.

source: people.com