Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government has approved Nova Scotia's request for federal assistance and the Canadian Armed Forces will be deployed to help recover from the destruction caused by Hurricane Fiona.
 

He explained that he canceled his planned visit to Japan to attend the official funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to instead focus on supporting Canadians affected by the storm.

Hurricane Fiona, considered one of the strongest storms to ever hit eastern Canada, has left a trail of destruction behind early Saturday before slowing over western Newfoundland, where this record-breaking storm destroyed a number of homes.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Anita Anand said the military began preparations before receiving the request for assistance and started mobilizing in case help was requested.

She explained that reconnaissance operations are ongoing to ensure troops are deployed wherever and whenever they are needed, adding that they will assist in removing trees and debris, restoring transportation links, and more.

On the other hand, Trudeau also says he will visit the area as soon as possible, noting that he does not want to disrupt any emergency teams focusing on important work on the ground.

Hurricane Fiona, which struck eastern Canada, has caused power outages for 500,000 homes in the country, in a phenomenon that heralds a difficult and bitter winter that will hit the world in the coming period.

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico in the northeast Caribbean is preparing for another day of heavy rain and floods that pose a life-threatening danger after the hurricane caused widespread power outages on the island.

Videos circulated on social media showed the extent of the destruction caused by Hurricane Fiona, including footage of the collapse of a bridge built in 2017 in the mountainous town of Otuado in the central part of the country.

Hurricane Fiona made landfall in Puerto Rico on Sunday afternoon, noting that the territory in the Caribbean, which is part of the United States, had suffered extensive damage five years ago due to Hurricane Maria.

Wind speeds reached 85 miles per hour in eastern Mayagüez, the eighth largest town in Puerto Rico, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

Reuters quoted Eric Blake from the US National Hurricane Center as saying about the situation in Puerto Rico: "The strongest winds are already subsiding and have shifted to the Dominican Republic."

US President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Puerto Rico on Sunday, a measure that authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief operations and take emergency protection actions.

The eye of Hurricane Fiona reached land in the Dominican Republic near Boca on Monday at 3:30 am local time.

In the early hours of Monday, the hurricane caused trees to be uprooted, power poles and billboards to be knocked down in eastern Dominican Republic.