Hurricane Maria takes aim at French islands
ADVERTISEMENTHurricane Maria, the second category five storm to hit the Caribbean this month, has plowed into the French islands of Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south.
Maria is a “potentially catastrophic” storm on a collision course with the US Virgin Islands and, according to the National Hurricane Center, its expected to hit Puerto Rico on Wednesday. Both are still reeling from Hurricane Irma earlier this month.
After Maria made landfall on the the former British colony of Dominica, home to 72-thousand people, its prime minister said on social media that he was at the complete mercy of the hurricane.
The governor of Puerto Rico has urged residents to seek refuge or head to a state shelter.
Puerto Rico, home to more than three million people, is expected to see up to 64 centimeters of rain.
If Maria retains its strength, it will be the most powerful hurricane to hit the US territory in 85 years.
Dominica | More photos coming in from this morning of the #HurricaneMaria-devastated Caribbean island of #Dominica. pic.twitter.com/e4Pgeb2uP2
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) September 19, 2017