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| Hurricane Maria makes landfall in Puerto Rico | Hurricane Maria makes landfall in Puerto Rico |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hurricane Maria, the devastating storm pushing north-west through the Caribbean, has landed in Puerto Rico. | Hurricane Maria, the devastating storm pushing north-west through the Caribbean, has landed in Puerto Rico. |
| The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said it arrived in Yabucoa in the east of the US territory, producing winds of 150 mph (250 km/h). | The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said it arrived in Yabucoa in the east of the US territory, producing winds of 150 mph (250 km/h). |
| The hurricane is now around 20 miles (32km) west of San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital. | |
| On the island of Dominica, which was badly hit on Monday, seven people are reported to have been killed. | On the island of Dominica, which was badly hit on Monday, seven people are reported to have been killed. |
| Aerial footage over the island shows flattened houses and the death toll on Dominica is likely to rise, with details remaining scant as communication links are down. | Aerial footage over the island shows flattened houses and the death toll on Dominica is likely to rise, with details remaining scant as communication links are down. |
| On Tuesday, Maria ploughed through St Croix in the US Virgin Islands, home to around 55,000 people. | On Tuesday, Maria ploughed through St Croix in the US Virgin Islands, home to around 55,000 people. |
| Shortly before making landfall in Puerto Rico, the storm was downgraded from category five to category four by the NHC. | Shortly before making landfall in Puerto Rico, the storm was downgraded from category five to category four by the NHC. |
| Footage posted on social media showed a torrent of water pouring through the streets of Guayama on the island's south coast. | Footage posted on social media showed a torrent of water pouring through the streets of Guayama on the island's south coast. |
| In San Juan, palm trees were bent double and electricity cables were blown loose as debris was thrown through the air. | In San Juan, palm trees were bent double and electricity cables were blown loose as debris was thrown through the air. |
| The governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello, earlier told the island's 3.5 million people to seek shelter. | The governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello, earlier told the island's 3.5 million people to seek shelter. |
| Mr Rossello warned residents to prepare for "the worst storm of the last century" as about 500 shelters were made available to accommodate tens of thousands of people. | Mr Rossello warned residents to prepare for "the worst storm of the last century" as about 500 shelters were made available to accommodate tens of thousands of people. |
| Puerto Rico has experienced just one category five storm since 1851 - the Okeechobee Hurricane in 1928. | |
| The island's public safety commissioner, Hector Pesquera, also issued a stern warning to residents ahead of the storm's arrival. | |
| "You have to evacuate. Otherwise, you're going to die," he said. "I don't know how to make this any clearer." | "You have to evacuate. Otherwise, you're going to die," he said. "I don't know how to make this any clearer." |
| Maria is the second storm of this strength to hit the Caribbean this hurricane season - the first being category five Irma earlier in September. Maria began moving roughly along the same track as Irma. | Maria is the second storm of this strength to hit the Caribbean this hurricane season - the first being category five Irma earlier in September. Maria began moving roughly along the same track as Irma. |
| Officials in Puerto Rico fear the debris left by Irma could now prove extremely dangerous in the high winds. | Officials in Puerto Rico fear the debris left by Irma could now prove extremely dangerous in the high winds. |
| There are also concerns that heavy rain could cause landslides in some places, and that a predicted storm surge of up to 9ft (2.7m) could swamp low-lying areas, with "destructive waves" expected to pummel the coast. | There are also concerns that heavy rain could cause landslides in some places, and that a predicted storm surge of up to 9ft (2.7m) could swamp low-lying areas, with "destructive waves" expected to pummel the coast. |
| The NHC also warned that Maria could deliver several tornadoes over Puerto Rico on Wednesday. | The NHC also warned that Maria could deliver several tornadoes over Puerto Rico on Wednesday. |
| Analysis: Wind-lashed island prays for safety | Analysis: Wind-lashed island prays for safety |
| By Will Grant in San Juan, Puerto Rico | By Will Grant in San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| People across Puerto Rico are just trying to ride out this storm as best they can now. From where we're hunkered down, in San Juan, the powerful winds are creating an incredible noise, rattling storm shutters and doors almost off their hinges. | People across Puerto Rico are just trying to ride out this storm as best they can now. From where we're hunkered down, in San Juan, the powerful winds are creating an incredible noise, rattling storm shutters and doors almost off their hinges. |
| The electricity is out in our hotel and it is too dark and too dangerous to try to see what is happening outside. Like millions of others, we have little choice at present except to stay put and wait in the darkness for the huge hurricane to pass. | The electricity is out in our hotel and it is too dark and too dangerous to try to see what is happening outside. Like millions of others, we have little choice at present except to stay put and wait in the darkness for the huge hurricane to pass. |
| The difficulty is, it is moving slowly - giving Maria more time to unleash its power on the island and its infrastructure. Some projections have shown the storm covering the entire island in the coming hours, hitting Puerto Rico with sustained hurricane force winds and large amounts of rainfall. | The difficulty is, it is moving slowly - giving Maria more time to unleash its power on the island and its infrastructure. Some projections have shown the storm covering the entire island in the coming hours, hitting Puerto Rico with sustained hurricane force winds and large amounts of rainfall. |
| Hurricane Maria is now the strongest storm to make landfall on the island in almost a century. Most are just praying that when they can eventually emerge from their places of shelter, they and their loved ones are safe and that the damage hasn't been too extensive. | Hurricane Maria is now the strongest storm to make landfall on the island in almost a century. Most are just praying that when they can eventually emerge from their places of shelter, they and their loved ones are safe and that the damage hasn't been too extensive. |
| Are you in an area affected by Hurricane Maria? Share your experience: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in an area affected by Hurricane Maria? Share your experience: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Puerto Rico has been a haven for people fleeing other storm-ravaged Caribbean islands in recent weeks. | Puerto Rico has been a haven for people fleeing other storm-ravaged Caribbean islands in recent weeks. |
| Hundreds of shelters have been set up by the authorities. | Hundreds of shelters have been set up by the authorities. |
| Residents had scrambled to board up windows and buy last-minute supplies as the storm moved in. | Residents had scrambled to board up windows and buy last-minute supplies as the storm moved in. |
| What do we know of the damage on Dominica? | What do we know of the damage on Dominica? |
| On Wednesday an advisor to Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, Hartley Henry, said that the full extent of the storm's damage was not yet known and that the death toll was likely to rise. | On Wednesday an advisor to Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, Hartley Henry, said that the full extent of the storm's damage was not yet known and that the death toll was likely to rise. |
| "It's difficult to determine the level of fatalities but so far seven are confirmed as a direct result of the hurricane," he said. | "It's difficult to determine the level of fatalities but so far seven are confirmed as a direct result of the hurricane," he said. |
| As a result of the strong winds, roofs had been ripped from dozens of buildings. | As a result of the strong winds, roofs had been ripped from dozens of buildings. |
| "The main general hospital took a beating," Mr Henry said, adding: "Patient care has been compromised." | "The main general hospital took a beating," Mr Henry said, adding: "Patient care has been compromised." |
| The first aerial footage of the island confirms "significant damage", Ronald Jackson of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency said. | The first aerial footage of the island confirms "significant damage", Ronald Jackson of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency said. |
| It shows flattened buildings, rivers which have burst their banks and a flooded runway. | It shows flattened buildings, rivers which have burst their banks and a flooded runway. |
| Dominica has been virtually cut off with telecommunications severed, but local amateur radio operators say more than 90% of properties have been damaged. | Dominica has been virtually cut off with telecommunications severed, but local amateur radio operators say more than 90% of properties have been damaged. |
| The former British colony, which has a population of 72,000 and is less than 50km long and 25km wide, escaped Hurricane Irma two weeks ago. | The former British colony, which has a population of 72,000 and is less than 50km long and 25km wide, escaped Hurricane Irma two weeks ago. |
| But on Monday the eye of the new category five storm passed directly over. | But on Monday the eye of the new category five storm passed directly over. |
| The last communication from the island was from Mr Skerrit just as the storm struck late on Monday, when he said in a Facebook post that the winds had swept away the roofs of "almost every person I have spoken to or otherwise made contact with". | The last communication from the island was from Mr Skerrit just as the storm struck late on Monday, when he said in a Facebook post that the winds had swept away the roofs of "almost every person I have spoken to or otherwise made contact with". |
| Where else has Maria passed? | Where else has Maria passed? |
| The storm arrived at 01:00 local time (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday in St Croix, where roughly half the US Virgin Islands' residents live. | The storm arrived at 01:00 local time (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday in St Croix, where roughly half the US Virgin Islands' residents live. |
| On Monday, the French territory of Martinique was hit by power cuts but escaped serious damage. | On Monday, the French territory of Martinique was hit by power cuts but escaped serious damage. |
| There was flooding in the French territory of Guadeloupe, where one person was killed by a falling tree and another died on the seafront. At least two others were missing after their ship sank near Desirade, the easternmost island in the archipelago. | There was flooding in the French territory of Guadeloupe, where one person was killed by a falling tree and another died on the seafront. At least two others were missing after their ship sank near Desirade, the easternmost island in the archipelago. |
| About 80,000 homes lost power in Guadeloupe. | About 80,000 homes lost power in Guadeloupe. |
| There are reports of flooding, mudslides and power outages in parts of St Lucia. | There are reports of flooding, mudslides and power outages in parts of St Lucia. |
| How did Maria gather strength so fast? | How did Maria gather strength so fast? |
| Maria jumped from a category three to a top-strength category five within just a few hours on Monday, which was a shock for people in Dominica. | Maria jumped from a category three to a top-strength category five within just a few hours on Monday, which was a shock for people in Dominica. |
| A factor in its rapid development is that local sea surface temperatures are currently anomalously high by a margin of around one to two degrees, says BBC weather forecaster Steve Cleaton. | A factor in its rapid development is that local sea surface temperatures are currently anomalously high by a margin of around one to two degrees, says BBC weather forecaster Steve Cleaton. |
| The elevated sea surface temperature will have contributed to the rapid development of this system, in concert with other very favourable atmospheric conditions within the locale such as low wind shear, our meteorologist adds. | The elevated sea surface temperature will have contributed to the rapid development of this system, in concert with other very favourable atmospheric conditions within the locale such as low wind shear, our meteorologist adds. |
| Will Irma relief work be affected? | Will Irma relief work be affected? |
| Some islands in Maria's path escaped the worst of Hurricane Irma and have been used as bases to distribute relief to places that were not so fortunate. | Some islands in Maria's path escaped the worst of Hurricane Irma and have been used as bases to distribute relief to places that were not so fortunate. |
| Now there are concerns that this work could be jeopardised if they are badly hit, too. | Now there are concerns that this work could be jeopardised if they are badly hit, too. |
| Guadeloupe has been a bridgehead for aid going to Irma-hit French territories, while Puerto Rico has also been offering crucial assistance to its neighbours. | Guadeloupe has been a bridgehead for aid going to Irma-hit French territories, while Puerto Rico has also been offering crucial assistance to its neighbours. |
| Overseas forces mobilise | Overseas forces mobilise |
| Britain, France, the US and the Netherlands all have overseas territories in the Caribbean. | Britain, France, the US and the Netherlands all have overseas territories in the Caribbean. |
| The British government said more than 1,300 troops were staying put in the region and an additional military team had been deployed. A 42-strong military resilience team has also been deployed to the British Virgin Islands. | The British government said more than 1,300 troops were staying put in the region and an additional military team had been deployed. A 42-strong military resilience team has also been deployed to the British Virgin Islands. |
| French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told AFP that 110 more soldiers would be sent to the region to reinforce about 3,000 people already there. | French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told AFP that 110 more soldiers would be sent to the region to reinforce about 3,000 people already there. |
| The Dutch navy tweeted that troops were heading to Saba and St Eustatius to bolster security amid fears of potential looting. | The Dutch navy tweeted that troops were heading to Saba and St Eustatius to bolster security amid fears of potential looting. |
| US President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, where the US military has been evacuating personnel. | US President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, where the US military has been evacuating personnel. |
| "Puerto Rico being hit hard by new monster Hurricane," he tweeted. "Be careful, our hearts are with you - will be there to help!" | "Puerto Rico being hit hard by new monster Hurricane," he tweeted. "Be careful, our hearts are with you - will be there to help!" |
| Are you in an area affected by Hurricane Maria? If it's safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in an area affected by Hurricane Maria? If it's safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |