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Things could not have gone worse with regards to Hurricane Maria on Monday.
The storm started the day as a category one hurricane, but in a matter of hours it was upgraded to a category five storm.
[Direct] #Maria #Basseterre Les vents sont extrêmement violents. Restez confinés. Ne sortez sous aucun prétexte. pic.twitter.com/0D8O0YY8a0
— Préfet de Guadeloupe (@Prefet971) September 19, 2017
On Tuesday morning, Maria made landfall in the Caribbean and will hit a number of the northern Leeward Islands over the next day or two.
The storm, which is producing sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h), is likely to have cause serious damage in Puerto Rico, as well as the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
Maria will bring a life-threatening storm surge, large and destructive waves, flash floods and mudslides with it.
Here are the Key Messages for #Maria advisory 13. pic.twitter.com/Qolhe54VA7
— NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) September 19, 2017
The storm already hit Dominica, Guadeloupe and a couple other small islands late on Monday and into Tuesday morning.
Dominica president, Roosevelt Skerrit, took to social media to share how bad the damage was.
“Initial reports are of widespread devastation. So far we have lost all what money can buy and replace,” he said. “My greatest fear for the morning is that we will wake to news of serious physical injury and possible deaths as a result of likely landslides triggered by persistent rains.”
Update from Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of #Dominica at ~0525 UTC Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/fxjeFZ7kpm
— David Paul (@MetDavidPaul) September 19, 2017
He added that winds have blown away the roofs of nearly every person he has spoken to and his roof has been destroyed as well.
Recovery efforts will begin in Dominica on Tuesday as Maria moves on to Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
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