Hurricane Maria damage: Dominica ‘obliterated’ as path moves through Caribbean

Ill-fated Caribbeans were still reeling from Hurricane
Irma when 160mph winds whipped through Dominica
overnight in the category 5 storm.
The former British overseas territory caused an
“avalanche of roofs” according to the island’s Prime
Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who wrote frantic Facebook
posts as he waited to be rescued.
He described how he was one of the first to have his
roof torn off his residence, writing: “I am at the
complete mercy of the hurricane. House is flooding.”
The island’s hospital roof soon followed, with debris
from Irma and Hurricane Maria becoming potentially
lethal projectiles.
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Residents in the French territory of Guadeloupe, where
around 400,000 people live, were told to “not go
outside under any conditions whatsoever” as the
hurricane approaches.
Mr Skerrit described “widespread devastation” and and
scenes of an “avalanche of torn away roofs” as the
raging winds swept across the British overseas
territory, already battered by Hurricane Irma.
He said: “So, far the winds have swept away the roofs
of almost every person I have spoken to or otherwise
made contact with.
“The roof to my own official residence was among the
first to go and this apparently triggered an avalanche
of torn away roofs in the city and the countryside.”
Hurricane Maria: Damage in
the Caribbean
Tue, September 19, 2017
Latest pictures as Hurricane Maria batters the
Caribbean
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People stand next to debris at a restaurant in Le
Carbet, on the French Caribbean island of
Martinique, after it was hit by Hurricane Maria
[AFP/Getty Images]
AFP/GETTY IMAGES 1 of 17
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit describes the damage
in Dominica
He added: “I am honestly not preoccupied with
physical damage at this time, because it is
devastating...indeed, mind boggling. My focus now is
in rescuing the trapped and securing medical
assistance for the injured.”
Emergency steps are being undertaken on the British
Virgin Islands to prepare for the looming onslaught,
although an official coordinating the operation has
warned the islands had been "weakened" by Irma and
the situation "doesn't look good".
Relief workers are racing to secure debris left strewn
across the islands in the wake of Irma that have the
potential to make the incoming hurricane "more
hazardous" if they are picked up by high winds.
Following a similar path to Irma, Maria's "intense" eye
made landfall with Dominica on Monday and the
hurricane is expected to reach the British Virgin
Islands on Tuesday night and into Wednesday local
time. This morning it was downgraded to a category 4
hurricane with winds up to 155mph.
Elsewhere in Pointe-A-Litre in the centre of
Guadeloupe residents were hit by severe flooding.
Trees have been left battered by Hurricane Maria
Meanwhile Puerto Rico is bracing for a possible direct
hit from Maria.
Officials in the US territory warned people in wooden
and flimsy homes to find shelter before the storm
arrives on Wednesday.
Hector Pesquera, the island’s public safety
commissioner, said: “You have to evacuate. Otherwise
you’re going to die.
“I don’t know how to make this any clearer.”
Islanders in St Kitts and Nevis have also been urged to
remain indoors as Hurricane Maria is due to pass
“uncomfortably close” on Tuesday.
Elmo Burke, St Kitts senior meteorological officer,
said: “Residents are urged to remain indoors and not
venture out during the passage or until the all clear is
given at some later time after Maria moves away."

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