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| Hurricane Maria: Trump to visit storm-ravaged Puerto Rico | Hurricane Maria: Trump to visit storm-ravaged Puerto Rico |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US President Donald Trump has said he will travel next week to Puerto Rico amid a growing crisis in the wake of destruction caused by Hurricane Maria. | |
| "That island was hit as hard as you can hit," he said at the White House. | "That island was hit as hard as you can hit," he said at the White House. |
| Puerto Rico's governor has appealed for federal help, warning the island is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis. | Puerto Rico's governor has appealed for federal help, warning the island is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis. |
| The Trump administration is facing criticism over its response to the situation on the US island territory, which the storm has left without power. | |
| On Tuesday, Mr Trump said the US was sending food, water and supplies on "an hourly basis". | |
| "Puerto Rico is very important to me," he added. "The people are fantastic. I grew up in New York so I know many Puerto Rican people." | |
| Mr Trump said next Tuesday was the "earliest I can go without disrupting relief efforts". | |
| He may also visit the US Virgin Islands, which was hit by both Hurricane Maria and Irma, he added. | He may also visit the US Virgin Islands, which was hit by both Hurricane Maria and Irma, he added. |
| The president's announcement came after the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, asked the US to put "people above debt". | The president's announcement came after the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, asked the US to put "people above debt". |
| Mayor Carmin Yulin's comments to CNN followed tweets by President Trump saying the island's $72bn (£53bn) debt needed to be addressed amid its appeal for relief aid. | Mayor Carmin Yulin's comments to CNN followed tweets by President Trump saying the island's $72bn (£53bn) debt needed to be addressed amid its appeal for relief aid. |
| "When someone is in a life or death situation," the mayor said, "there is a human, moral imperative to deal with that situation before dealing with anything else." | "When someone is in a life or death situation," the mayor said, "there is a human, moral imperative to deal with that situation before dealing with anything else." |
| She also said two patients on life support died on Monday because a hospital ran out of diesel, CBS News reports. | She also said two patients on life support died on Monday because a hospital ran out of diesel, CBS News reports. |
| The island's government asked a judge on Monday to defer key deadlines in its bankruptcy case as it grapples with Maria's devastation. | The island's government asked a judge on Monday to defer key deadlines in its bankruptcy case as it grapples with Maria's devastation. |
| Meanwhile, Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello called for more rapid relief efforts, "otherwise, there will be... a massive exodus to the [mainland] United States". | |
| The White House on Monday rejected criticism that the Trump administration has been slow to respond in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. | |
| Maria, which struck last Wednesday, left more than a dozen people dead in Puerto Rico, knocking out electricity, water and telephone services. | |
| It tore through the island, home to 3.5 million people, as one of the most powerful storms in nearly 90 years. | |
| Officials in Puerto Rico say it could be months before power is fully restored, which could hinder access to clean water, safe food and medical supplies. |