According to Miami Herald, Puerto Rico is experiencing an island-wide blackout, according to private power utility operator LUMA Energy spokesman Hugo Sorrentini.

Sorrentini reportedly said the hurricane’s strong winds had caused several interruptions in the grid’s transmission lines, leaving millions without power.

“The current weather conditions are currently extremely dangerous and are hindering our capacity to evaluate the situation,” he said. “We will begin the re-establishment efforts as soon as it is safe.”

US President Joseph R. Biden declared a state of emergency in the US territory as the eye of the storm approached the island's southwest corner.

Puerto Ricans braced for Hurricane Fiona on Saturday, September 17, 2022.

Power restoration could take 'several days'

Restoring power service for the entire island could take several days, Sorrentini said. The power company already contacted partners that could help restore power through mutual aid agreements. LUMA’s parent company, Quanta, can deploy up to 5,000 additional workers, Sorrentini told the Miami Herald.

The island is expected to get 12 to 16 inches of rain with a local maximum of 25, particularly in the south and southeast regions, the National Hurricane Center said Sunday in its 2:00 pm advisory.

Fiona’s sustained winds are 85 mph, and it’s expected to continue strengthening as it moves from very close to Puerto Rico’s southwest coast towards the Dominican Republic.

Fiona passed south of the Virgin Islands earlier today as a Tropical Storm.