Hurricane Irma Update: More Than One Million People Without Power in Puerto Rico

Several media outlets are reporting that more one million people in Puerto Rico are without power after Hurricane Irma reached the island on Wednesday night. 

On Thursday morning, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said officials were beginning the task of assessing damage to the island and bringing back electricity to its hardest hit areas, according to NBC News.

According to NBC, Rossello also warned the potentially deadly weather wasn't over, alerting residents to flash flooding and additional rain through Saturday after much of the island was drenched with 2 to 8 inches of rain. Bent trees, downed light posts and blocked roadways were common, according to the report.

According to a statement issued Thursday morning by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, casualties on Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barts and Barbuda have been reported at this time; electricity and communications are down on several islands and the full extent of the damage is not yet known.

Resorts throughout the affected areas in the region, including those on nearby islands in Irma's projected path, have instituted emergency hurricane protocols.

"We are extremely saddened to learn that we lost life during the past 24 hours and we stand with our Caribbean brothers and sisters at this time," said Frank Comito, CHTA's director general, in a written release. "We are keeping everyone in our thoughts and prayers, including family, friends and residents of Florida, which has declared a state of emergency. The Caribbean people are resilient and we are resolved to work with our partners to restore lives and communities."

According to the CHTA, all hurricane warnings have now been discontinued for Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Saba, St. Barts, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts and NevisSt. Maarten/St. Martin and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for more Hurricane Irma updates and be sure to follow Travel Agent’s Joe Pike on Twitter @TravelPike and Instagram @pike5260.

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