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Karen exits Caribbean after toppling bridge, cutting power

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Authorities in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported a downed bridge, limited power outages, flooding and landslides as Tropical Storm Karen swirled away from the northeast Caribbean on Wednesday.

Schools remained closed in Puerto Rico, although government offices reopened. Meanwhile, everything reopened in the U.S. Virgin Islands except for offices and schools in St. John.

Crews temporarily closed some coastal roads in southeastern Puerto Rico that flooded after Karen hit the island on Tuesday and knocked out power to 29,000 customers. An island-wide outage was reported in neighboring St. Thomas Tuesday morning, followed by smaller outages later that afternoon.

A community in the mountain town of Utuado was isolated Wednesday after a bridge that had been damaged during Hurricane Maria two years ago collapsed during the rains of Tropical Storm Karen. Mayor Ernesto Irizarry told reporters that he has been seeking $1 million to repair the bridge.

Intermittent rains continued Friday even as Karen pulled away.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said that late Wednesday, the storm was centered about 445 miles (715 kilometers) north-northeast of San Juan and it was moving north-northeast at 15 mph (24 kph). The storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph).

Forecasters said the storm is projected to make a clockwise loop over the Atlantic over the weekend, which would leave it heading generally toward the U.S. East Coast.

Meanwhile, Jerry became a post-tropical cyclone and was nearing Bermuda on Wednesday.

Further to the east, Lorenzo became the fifth Atlantic hurricane of the season and was projected to become a major hurricane by the end of the week, although it is not expected to affect the Caribbean. It was centered about 915 miles (1,470 kilometers) west of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands and had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 kph). It was heading west-northwest at 15 mph (24 kph).

Luz Aponte Velazquez lies on a cot at the Ramon Quinones Medina High School, one of the shelters enabled by the municipality of Yabucoa, before the arrival of Tropical Storm Karen, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Tropical Storm Karen regained strength as it swirled toward Puerto Rico, where it’s expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Clouds approach the Yabucoa municipal cemetery in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Tropical Storm Karen regained strength as it swirled toward Puerto Rico, where it’s expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
A municipal worker turns on portable lights atthe inner courtyard of Ramon Quinones Medina High School, one of the shelters enabled by the municipality of Yabucoa before the arrival of Tropical Storm Karen, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
A house without a roof is surrounded by clouds on a mountain in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Tropical Storm Karen regained strength as it swirled toward Puerto Rico, where it’s expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Mayor Rafael Surillo, wearing a blue cap, watches a televised weather report flanked by employees at a makeshift emergency center as they wait for the arrival of Tropical Storm Karen, inside a municipal library in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Karen regained tropical storm strength as it swirled toward Puerto Rico, where it’s expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
A man uses a flour bag to protect himself from the rain, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Tropical Storm Karen regained strength as it swirled toward Puerto Rico, where it’s expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Mayor Rafael Surillo, wearing a blue cap, watches a televised weather report flanked by employees at a makeshift emergency center as they wait for the arrival of Tropical Storm Karen, inside a municipal library in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Karen regained tropical storm strength as it swirled toward Puerto Rico, where it’s expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Maria Claudio Maldonado cares for her 83 year-old mother 83 year-old Dominga Maldonado at the Mendez Head Start Center, which has been set up as a temporary shelter in preparation for the arrival of Tropical Storm Karen, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Karen regained tropical storm strength as it swirled toward Puerto Rico, where it’s expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
A man walks in the rain in Yabucoa, before the arrival of Tropical Storm Karen, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Karen regained tropical storm strength as it swirled toward Puerto Rico, where it’s expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Municipal workers install a shower system in a bathroom at the Ramon Quinones Medina High School, being prepped as a temporary shelter, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Tropical Storm Karen regained tropical storm strength as it swirled toward Puerto Rico, where it’s expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
A portable light pole sits parked in a courtyard of Ramon Quinones Medina High School, where residents can seek temporary shelter, as residents prepare for the arrival of Tropical Storm Karen, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Karen regained tropical storm strength as it swirled toward Puerto Rico, where it’s expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)