on 18 september 2018, hurricane maria, the most powerful storm to hit the island, severely damaged its infrastructure and cut off all its communications to the outside world. the assessment capacities project estimates that the hurricane has caused $1.37 billion in losses across the island, which is equal to 226 percent of its 2016 gdp. as of april 12, there are 65 fatalities confirmed across the island, including 34 who are missing and presumed to be dead.