Winds pick up as Hurricane Fiona hits Nova Scotia
Fiona made landfall in Canada on Saturday morning after taking 16 lives in Puerto Rico.
The storm, which was downgraded from a hurricane to a post-tropical cyclone on Friday, first barrelled into the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia, with heavy rain drenching the region and hurricane-strength winds downing power lines and trees.
As Fiona continued on its destructive path through Canada’s eastern seaboard throughout the day, around a dozen homes were washed out to sea off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.
In one terrifying ordeal, a woman had to be rescued from the water when her home collapsed into the sea in the Channel-Port Aux Basques area.
Authorities said that they had received a report of another person being swept out to sea but were so far unable to confirm it.
This comes as more than half of Puerto Rico remains without power, five days on from when Hurricane Fiona wrought havoc across the island, killing up to eight people.
Meanwhile, Florida is bracing for a separate hurricane in the coming week. Tropical Storm Ian is forecast to build into a Category 3 hurricane before reaching the Sunshine State on Wednesday.
Death toll from Hurricane Fiona rises to 16 in Puerto Rico
Hurricane Fiona has killed at least 16 people in Puerto Rico, according to the authorities.
The island is still recouping from the storm, which made its impact last weekend and left many residents without electricity or running water.
The death toll could increase as emergency personnel gain access to the hardest-hit areas.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declares state of emergency
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declares state of emergency across parts of Sunshine State as another storm approaches.
The governor issued the emergency declaration for 24 Florida counties and urged residents to prepare for the incoming major weather event.
“The severity and track of Tropical Depression Nine will continue to evolve. Because of this and the potential for dangerous storm surge, heavy rainfall, strong winds, flash flooding, and the potential for isolated tornadic activity Governor DeSantis issued the State of Emergency for the following 24 counties,” his office announced on Friday.
“This storm has the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane and we encourage all Floridians to make their preparations.”
The state’s National Guard has been activated to be on standby and Mr DeSantis has called on the federal government to also issue a pre-landfall emergency declaration as the storm encroaches.
Tropical Storm Ian developed over the Central Caribbean Sea this week and is forecast to hit Florida as a Category 3 hurricane by the middle of next week.
This comes at a time when Canada continues to be battered by Hurricane Fiona.
Fiona’s devastation in pictures:
Damage caused by post-tropical storm Fiona on the Burnt Islands, in the Newfoundland and Labrador Province of Canada:
Damage caused by post-tropical storm Fiona on the Burnt Islands, in the Newfoundland and Labrador Province of Canada
(Michael King/AFP via Getty Image)
A dwelling submerged in water off the coast of the Burnt Islands:
(Michael King/AFP via Getty Image)
Fallen trees lean against a house in Sydney, Nova Scotia:
Fallen trees lean against a house in Sydney, Nova Scotia, as post tropical storm Fiona batters the area
(AP)
Residents stand in flood waters following the passing of Hurricane Fiona in Shediac, New Brunswick:
Residents stand in flood waters following the passing of Hurricane Fiona, later downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, in Shediac, New Brunswick,
(REUTERS)
The aftermath of Fiona in the Burnt Islands in Newfoundland:
(Michael King/AFP via Getty Image)
Fiona dubbed Canada’s Hurricane Sandy
Fiona has been dubbed Canada’s Hurricane Sandy, with experts warning it will be one of the most powerful storms ever to his the country.
Chris Fogarty, a meteorologist for Canada’s Hurricane Centre, told CNN this week that Fiona “could be Canada’s version of Sandy”, pointing to the size and intensity of the now former hurricane.
Hurricane Sandy ravaged the East Coast of the US back in 2012, hammering 24 states incluing New York and New Jersey.
More than 230 people died and it caused an estimated $78.7bn in damage.
Half of Puerto Rico still without power five days on
Half of Puerto Rico is still without power more than five days after Hurricane Fiona barrelled into the island.
Many on the US territory are angry and incredulous, and calls are growing for the ouster of the island’s private electricity transmission and distribution company.
Fuel disruptions are worsening the situation, forcing grocery stores, gas stations and other businesses to close and leaving apartment buildings in the dark because there is no diesel for generators.
Many are questioning why it is taking so long to restore power since Fiona was a Category 1 storm that did not affect the entire island, and whose rain — not wind — inflicted the greatest damage.
“It’s not normal,” said Marcel Castro-Sitiriche, an electrical engineering professor at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez. “They have not given a convincing explanation of what the problem is.”
Half of Puerto Rico is without power more than five days after Hurricane Fiona struck the U.S. territory — including an entire town where not a single work crew has arrived
Woman rescued as post-tropical cyclone Fiona washes homes out to sea
A woman had to be rescued from the waters as post-tropical cyclone Fiona washed around a dozen homes out to sea off the coast of Canada.
The woman, who has not been named, was tossed into the water as her home collapsed in the Channel-Port Aux Basques area of Newfoundland on Saturday, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Newfoundland and Labrador.
A spokesperson for the RCMP said that the woman was pulled to safety and taken to hospital.
The extent of her injuries is unknown at this time.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:
Between eight and 12 homes on the edge of the extreme southwestern tip of Newfoundland are believed to have been washed out to sea since Fiona barrelled into the area on Saturday
Power outages could last days
Power outages in hard-hit areas could last for several days, officials have warned, as conditions remain too dangerous for crews to begin repairs.
Peter Gregg, CEO of Nova Scotia Power, said in a press conference on Saturday that more than 900 power technicians were headed to Nova Scotia, where Fiona first made landfall early on Saturday morning.
But, because the province is still enduring an active storm, workers will have to wait to start assessing the damage and restoring power.
“We’re working to restore power as quickly as we can, as soon as it’s safe to do so,” he said.
Florida braces for separate hurricane
As Canada continues to be hammered by post-tropical cyclone Fiona, Florida is bracing for a separate hurricane in the coming days.
Nasa called off the launch of its Artemis l moon rocket and Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency across parts of the Sunshine State as Tropical Storm Ian is set to intensify into a powerful hurricane.
The space agency’s team announced on Saturday morning that – after holding a planning meeting – they had decided to postpone Tuesday’s launch attempt amid concerns about the upcoming extreme weather.
“NASA is foregoing a launch opportunity Tuesday, Sept. 27, and preparing for rollback, while continuing to watch the weather forecast associated with Tropical Storm Ian,” the agency tweeted on Saturday morning.
The postponement of the highly-anticipated event came just hours after Mr DeSantis issued the emergency declaration for 24 Florida counties and urged residents to prepare for the incoming major weather event.
Tropical Storm Ian developed over the Central Caribbean Sea this week and is forecast to hit Florida as a Category 3 hurricane by the middle of next week.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:
Launch was postponed just hours after Governor Ron DeSantis issued an emergency declaration for 24 Florida counties
Map shows Fiona’s forecast path across Canada
The Canadian Hurricane Centre has released a map showing the path Fiona is forecast to take across Canada.
The post-tropical cyclone is expected to continue to move northeastward on Saturday and cause damaging wind, waves, and storm surge, the centre said.
(ECCC Canadian Hurricane Centre)
Woman rescued after Fiona washed home into sea
A woman was rescued from the water after post-tropical storm Fiona washed her home into the sea off the coast of Canada.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Newfoundland and Labrador told the Associated Press that the woman was “tossed into the water as her home collapsed” in the Channel-Port Aux Basques area, at the extreme southwestern tip of Newfoundland.
The woman was pulled from the water to safety.
Police said that they had received a report of another person being swept out to sea but that they had been unable to confirm it.
Up to 12 homes and other buildings on the edge of the coast are believed to have been washed out to sea.