Hurricane Threat As Storm Approaches Puerto Rico

HAVANA (AP) — Puerto Ricans are bracing for severe wind and extreme rain as Tropical Storm Fiona bears down amid expectations it will grow into a hurricane before striking the U.S. territory’s southern coast Sunday afternoon. Forecasters say “historic” levels of rain are expected to produce landslides and heavy flooding, with up to 20 inches forecast in isolated areas. Fiona will be lashing cities and towns in a part of Puerto Rico that is still recovering from a string of strong earthquakes that hit starting in late 2019, with several schools still shuttered and debris to be removed. Fiona is also coming just two days before the anniversary of Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 storm that caused deaths and destruction across the island in 2017.