The short version
- Metro Puerto Rico reports that strong swells began last Thursday and have impacted La Pocita, Paseo de la Talega and areas up to Piñones
- Mayor Julia Nazario told Metro Puerto Rico the swells are unusual for October though common in November, February and March
- A 91-year-old woman's home in Loíza is at risk of collapse after a supporting wall from an adjacent structure gave way, according to the mayor
- The municipality is working with the Department of Housing to relocate the resident while the PR-187 road remains open for now
Unusual October swells
The mayor of Loíza, Julia Nazario, said in an interview with Metro Puerto Rico that she had never observed swells in October of the intensity seen in recent days during her almost ten years in office. She stated that the strong waves started last Thursday and have affected various coastal sectors of the municipality. Metro Puerto Rico reported
Nazario told the outlet that while strong swells are expected in November, February and March, they are not typical for October. The affected areas include La Pocita, Paseo de la Talega and coastal erosion zones extending to Piñones. The mayor also questioned a permit granted by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources on Oct. 14, saying she had been raising alerts since December 2025.
Also on PuertoRico.com: Loíza travel guide
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
En noviembre, febrero, marzo tenemos fuertes marejadas, pero para octubre no
Our translation: In November, February, March we have strong swells, but not for October
The source's own statement, as quoted by Metro Puerto Rico. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Risk to resident and infrastructure
Among the situations the municipality is addressing is the home of a 91-year-old woman who refuses to leave despite the danger of collapse. According to Nazario, a wall from an adjacent structure that supports her residence has already given way. The town is coordinating with the Department of Housing so the woman will agree to move to a safe location, Metro Puerto Rico reported.
The mayor indicated that the PR-187 road was passable at the time of the interview, although she could not guarantee it would remain so over the weekend. Telemundo Puerto Rico reported that the strong swells are complicating a project aimed at stopping coastal erosion in the area.
Where the sources differ
Metro Puerto Rico and Telemundo Puerto Rico both report on strong swells affecting Loíza. Metro provides extensive detail including the mayor's direct statements, the start date of the swells, specific locations affected, the situation of the 91-year-old resident, road status and her comments on a DRNA permit. Telemundo's report is shorter, focusing on the swells affecting residents and how they complicate an erosion-control project. The sources do not conflict on any facts.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not specify the height of the waves, exact damage amounts or costs, whether any evacuations have occurred beyond the one resident, the current status of the erosion-control project, or what actions if any the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources has taken in response to the mayor's concerns. They also do not indicate whether swells are forecast to continue or intensify over the weekend.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Loíza enfrenta marejadas inusuales para octubre
- Reporting Fuertes marejadas afectan a residentes de Loíza
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico provided the most comprehensive account based on an interview with Mayor Julia Nazario, while Telemundo Puerto Rico added that the swells are hindering an erosion project. Details about the 91-year-old resident and the mayor's tenure rest solely on the Metro report.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
Nils Huenerfuerst / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0PuertoRico.com is free, and readers like you keep it that way.
The PuertoRico.com newsroom checks every story against its sources and publishes it free. If this one helped, a contribution of any size keeps the next one free too.
Secure checkout by Stripe: card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Link.
One payment, nothing to sign up for.
Contributions go to Puerto Rico.com, LLC. They are not charitable donations and are not tax-deductible. Payments are processed by Stripe.
Thank you for keeping PuertoRico.com free.
Your contribution went through. It helps pay for the next story.
Contributions go to Puerto Rico.com, LLC. They are not charitable donations and are not tax-deductible. Payments are processed by Stripe.