Puerto Rico evacuations as hurricane leaves crack in dam

Puerto Rico is facing renewed danger in the wake of Hurricane Maria, as the Guajataca Dam fails under the strain of weather damage and heavy rainfall.

The government has called the situation "extremely dangerous", and the struggling dam is reportedly causing flash flooding in the island's northwest corner.

Two northwestern municipalities in Puerto Rico, home to some 70,000 people, are being evacuated "as quickly as they can" because a crack has been found in the dam, the national weather service said.

Worried residents are also wondering how they will cope, amid fears that power across the island could be out for weeks or even months.

Luis Gutierrez, a Democratic representative of Puerto Rican descent, said public health and infrastructure has been "literally blown away" by Hurricane Maria, which was a category four storm when it hit on Thursday.

He pointed out that existing problems in the US territory - including a recession, outmigration and a lack of investment - has exaggerated the scope of the damage.

Felix Delgado, mayor of the northern coastal city of Catano, said: "Months and months and months and months are going to pass before we can recover from this."

Some residents said they were considering leaving Puerto Rico.

But Israel Molina, 68, said he would not leave his shop, which he has owned since buying and rebuilding it after Hurricane Hugo hit in 1989.