San Juan, Feb. 8 (BNA): Dozens of schools in Puerto Rico closed Monday after torrential rains caused widespread flooding and several landslides across the American Caribbean over the weekend.
The harsh weather also caused several trees to fall and forced the authorities to close various major roads, with more than a dozen people staying in shelters after their homes were inundated.
Up to six inches (15 centimeters) of rain fell in less than six hours in some places, said Nino Correia, commissioner of the Office of Emergency Management and Disaster Management.
Tua Alta, a town in Puerto Rico’s northern region, received the most rain by about 16 inches (41 cm) over the weekend, according to the San Juan National Weather Service, the Associated Press reported.
The flooding along coastal areas was exacerbated by large waves up to 13 feet (four meters) high that hit the island’s northern coast on Saturday and Sunday.
HF