A humanitarian crisis grew on Saturday in Puerto Rico as towns were left without fresh water, fuel, power or phone service following Hurricane Maria’s devastating passage across the US territory. That number was expected to climb as officials from remote towns continued to check in with officials in the capital, San Juan. The north coastal town of Manati had run out of fuel and fresh water, Mayor Jose Sanchez Gonzalez said. “This is without a doubt the biggest catastrophe in modern history for Puerto Rico,” he said. Across Puerto Rico, more than 15,000 people were in shelters, including some 2,000 rescued from the north coastal town of Toa Baja.

Source: The Guardian September 23, 2017 12:39 UTC