More than 15 inches (nearly 40 centimeters) of rain fell on the mountains surrounding the Guajataca Dam in northwest Puerto Rico after Maria left the island Wednesday afternoon, swelling the reservoir behind the nearly 90-year-old dam. But he acknowledged “it’s going to take a while” before people in Puerto Rico will be able to communicate with their families outside the island. The territory’s $73 billion debt crisis has left agencies like the state power company broke. The death toll in Puerto Rico stood at six but was likely to rise. New York plans to send about 240 National Guardsmen and state troopers to assist Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 23, 2017 10:18 UTC