Hurricane Fiona caused a blackout in Puerto Rico, dumping torrential rains and causing "considerable" damage to the US island before heading to the Dominican Republic.

It caused landslides, knocked down trees and power lines, made roads impassable and collapsed a bridge in the town of Utuado

, in the central mountainous region of the island,

Governor Pedro Pierluisi

said at a press conference.

The entire territory, where more than three million people live, was without electricity as the hurricane approached, added Pierluisi, stating that the electricity grid was out of order.

The hurricane, which hit the southwestern coast of Puerto Rico near Punta Tocon yesterday at 3:20 pm local time (7:20 pm GMT), bringing winds of up to 140 km / h, is now off the coast of Puerto Rico and is expected that today affects the Dominican Republic. 

However, heavy rains are expected to continue on the island causing devastating flash floods.

Fiona will remain a "catastrophic event from the aftermath of the floods" in the central mountainous region in eastern and southern Puerto Rico, tweeted Pierluisi, adding that 23-33 cm of rain fell in just five hours. 

"The amounts of rain will produce catastrophic flash floods and urban floods in Puerto Rico and parts of the eastern Dominican Republic, as well as landslides and landslides in areas with high ground," are the dramatic forecasts of the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Still, according to the NHC

, Fiona, who spent Sunday from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane, is expected to strengthen and become "significant within 48 hours," before heading north to the Atlantic Ocean. 

The hurricane had already caused severe damage when it crossed Guadeloupe on Friday evening.

In some places the water has risen by more than 1.50 meters.

US President

Joe Biden yesterday declared a state of emergency for Puerto Rico,

authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance.

The NHC also said tropical storm conditions are expected in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas by late morning today or tomorrow.