San Juan mayor begs Trump for help with hurricane relief, says people are dying

The mayor of Puerto Rico's capital did not hold back Friday in an emotional plea tothe Trump administration, saying conditions on the hurricane-ravaged island would be "something close to a genocide" ifthe U.S. president didn't"take charge and save lives."

"I am done beingpolite, I am done being politicallycorrect.I am mad as hellbecause my people'slives are at stake," San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz said at anews conference.

If we don't get the food and water into people's hands, we are going to see something close to a genocide.-San Juan MayorCarmenYulinCruz

"If we don't get the food and water into people's hands, we are going to see something close to a genocide," she said.

Hurricane Maria, the most powerful storm to hit Puerto Rico in nearly 90 years, has killed at least 16 people on the island and left widespread damage tohomes, roads and infrastructure.

"If anybody out there is listening to us, we are dying, and you are killing us with the inefficiency and the bureaucracy," Cruz said.

Saturday morning, Trump responded to Cruz's criticism in a series of tweets, saying there has been "poor leadership" in Puerto Rico and "Theywant everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort."

'This isa life-or-death story'

As most ofthe U.S. territory's 3.4 million residents faced a10thday without power and struggled to find clean waterand fuel,Cruz lashed back at comments by atop U.S. official who said the federal recovery effort in Puerto Rico was"a good news story."

"Damn it, this is not a good news story," Cruz told CNN angrily on Friday. "This is apeople-are-dying story. This is a life-or-death story."

Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke, head ofthe parent department for the Federal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA), said on Thursday she was satisfied with thedisaster response so far.

"I know it is really a good news story in terms of ourability to reach people and the limited number of deaths that
have taken place in such a devastating hurricane," Duke said.

The mayor of San German, a town of about 35,000 in thesouthwestern corner of the island, echoed Cruz's harsh words.

"The governor is giving a message that everything isresolved, and it is not true," MayorIsidroNegronIrizarrysaid in Spanish on Twitter. "There is no functional operationsstructure. We are alone."

More troops, supplies on the way

Gov.RicardoRossellohas called the destruction to the islandunprecedented, though he has praised the U.S. government'srelief efforts.

Duke travelled to Puerto Rico on Friday, joiningRosselloforan aerial tour of the island. She told reporters she was proud of the recovery work being done, but said she and Trump would not be satisfied until the territory wasfully functional. She took no questions from reporters and didnot specifically address her "good news" comment or Cruz'sresponse.

Ground transportation, hampered by fuel shortages andstreets blocked with fallen vegetation and utility wires,remained a major challenge.

More troops, medical supplies and vehicles were on the wayto the island, the senior U.S. general appointedto lead military relief operations told CNNon Friday.

Asked how long it would take for Puerto Rico to recover,Lt.-Gen.Jeffrey Buchanangave a slightsigh and said: "This is a very, very long duration."

Trump has defended his administration's handling of the disaster. Heis scheduled to go Puerto Rico on Tuesday.

Financing the rebuilding of the island is set to be complicated after Puerto Rico filed the largest-ever U.S. local government bankruptcy in May, weighed down by $72 billion US in debt.