Nine years after Hurricane María struck Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, coastal municipalities continue to suffer from lost shoreline, damaged natural barriers, and collapsed structures near the sea. Playa Córcega in Rincón experienced severe coastal erosion, losing sand and causing the collapse of structures once used by beachgoers; more than 10 condominiums and homes there fell into the sea.
A similar collapse occurred along the Paseo Lineal near Puerta de Tierra in San Juan, and a section in Isabela also collapsed because it lacked a protective barrier. Héctor "Tito" Varela, environmental activist and programs manager for Surfrider Foundation, warned that the eroded coast without natural barriers threatens nearby communities and said he fears a future strong hurricane could recreate "a Córcega" in multiple parts of Puerto Rico.
Waldemar Quiles Pérez, secretary of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA), confirmed María caused significant sand loss, coastline retreat, and substantial alteration of dunes and other coastal systems. Varela stressed that the Category 5 storm underscored the importance of conserving coastal ecosystems to withstand future weather events.