FORT MYERS, Fla. — Puerto Rico declared a state of emergency after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake and over fifty aftershocks struck the island Tuesday morning.
On Monday, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake also struck the island; in fact, Puerto Rico has experienced a series of quakes since December 28.
Tuesday's earthquake is the strongest the island has had in over one hundred years, killing at least one person and causing dozens of homes to crumble in the southern part of the island.
The series of temblors also provoked an islandwide blackout.
Jose Candelario, who lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico, says he and his family set a contingency plan after Monday's quake — they did not expect the worst was yet to come.
"We had that plan made, but once you're in that situation, you're in a state of shock. You're left asking yourself what should you do and when you try to walk, you can't because your body is off-balance from the ground moving," said Candelario.
Candelario says the 6.4 magnitude earthquake lasted only seconds but felt like it was hours.
Marilyn Santiago from Fort Myers says that power outage on the island made it difficult to contact her loved ones in Puerto Rico, however, she was able to contact her cousin and ninety-five-year-old aunt.
Santiago says both of them were able to evacuate the apartment they live in just as the building was beginning to collapse.
"As I was talking to him, there was another temblor, and it really broke my heart. I heard him; the tone of his voice was very desperate. I hope I can forget that sound because it was terrifying," said Santiago.
Santiago helped provide aid to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and said she is preparing to do the same for those affected by these earthquakes.
Santiago is part of the Facebook page "Puertorriqueños en SWFL," where the Puerto Rican community in Southwest Florida is gearing up to start collecting emergency supplies to send to the island.
While many remain fearful that Puerto Rico will experience more earthquakes, Santiago says Puerto Ricans are resilient and will get through this devastation.
