A deadly Caribbean cyclone that reshaped disaster response
AP News reports a widening probe ties multiple Puerto Rico officials to alleged corruption and interference in a key agency, prompting resignations and fresh scrutiny from Congress while the island battles outages and recovery delays.
The United States has mobilized disaster relief for Venezuela after 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck near Caracas. Washington has dispatched a disaster assistance team and pledged $150 million, while other nations offer help. The earthquakes have caused severe damage and casualties, prompting international calls for rapid humanitarian response.
Auditors find that only a fraction of federal funds obligated for Puerto Rico’s grid recovery have been disbursed. The GAO warns that staff turnover, review delays and the debt burden at PREPA hinder progress. Outages persist as vegetation overgrowth remains a key cause.