Last Rites for a Barrio

A crushing mud slide kills hundreds in Puerto Rico

The island is normally swept by tradewinds from the northeast, but the torrential rains pounding Puerto Rico early last week came from the southeast, borne by a tropical wave that stalled and refused to move along. In three days, up to 15 in. of water spilled from the skies. In the hillside barrio of Mameyes, an impoverished community of more than 1,500 residents above the south-coast industrial city of Ponce (pop. 250,000), the downpour caused little of the flooding that afflicted lower-lying areas of the island. The 30 degrees slope on which Mameyes' wood and corrugated-tin shanties were built provided a...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!