Hurricane Maria in the Caribbean

Hurricane Maria, a Category Five storm, is moving through the Caribbean Islands. The storm follows in the wake of Hurricane Irma and has affected some of the same countries, with devastating results to some of the islands.

Category 5 is the highest grade on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, and indicates a storm that could cause catastrophic damage.

Maria made landfall in Dominica on 19 September with the giant storm totally engulfing the island. It left 15 dead, and authorities have reported devastation to the island with estimates indicating that as many as 90% of the buildings on the island suffered some damage. Reports indicate that some villages are isolated due to the floods, and can only be reached by helicopters or boats.

The unexpected arrival of Hurricane Maria, so soon after Irma, affected relief supplies set aside in Dominica. The country had avoided major damage from the storm, and so shared relief supplies with their worst-affected neighbours in the Caribbean.

The powerful storm has also affected Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and a state of emergency was declared in the Antilles Islands.