Puerto Rico is under another state of emergency as waves from a winter storm moving northeast into the United States pounded the island on Monday, some reaching heights of nearly 9 feet.
Authorities in Puerto Rico called for road closures and evacuated dozens of families as the storm produced massive waves that exceeded those seen when Hurricane Maria hit the area in September 2017, according to The Associated Press.
Massive waves knocked down palm trees, flooded hotels in low-lying areas, and forced the closure of beaches and about two dozen schools. The storm's aftermath also destroyed several ships and a government ship that operated a ferry service between Catano and Old San Juan.
Meteorologist Gabriel Loggero of the National Weather Service in San Juan said the wave is the largest to hit Puerto Rico in more than a decade. In addition, meteorologists showed that waves generated by northeast winds are also affecting the U.S. Virgin Islands and other Caribbean islands, but to a lesser extent. The storm is expected to last through Wednesday.
The storm emergency comes as Puerto Rico continues to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Maria. Overall, the government estimates that last year's storm caused $94 billion in damage.
