Can Bankrupt Puerto Rico Afford Another Hurricane? – euronews

Puerto Rico, already trying to dig itself out of a historic financial crisis, is now facing a direct hit by a major hurricane that could destroy any progress the U.S. territory has made under a year-old economic rehab plan and set it back further.

Hurricane Maria is forecast to hit Puerto Rico early Wednesday, testing the local government’s ability to respond to a humanitarian disaster. While the Caribbean island of 3.4 million people is accustomed to tropical storms, it hasn’t been hit by a Category 4 or 5 hurricane since 1928.

Gov. Ricardo Rossello announced Monday that he had declared a state of emergency and urged people living in flood-prone areas to evacuate.

Related: ‘Rapidly Intensifying’ Hurricane Maria Takes…