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| Hurricane Maria bears down on Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico | Hurricane Maria bears down on Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hurricane Maria, the second maximum-strength Atlantic storm of the season, is bearing down on the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. | Hurricane Maria, the second maximum-strength Atlantic storm of the season, is bearing down on the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. |
| The category five tempest has already inflicted "widespread damage" on the Caribbean island of Dominica. | The category five tempest has already inflicted "widespread damage" on the Caribbean island of Dominica. |
| It briefly weakened to a four but is now again packing top sustained winds of 280km/h (175mph). | |
| The storm is moving roughly along the same track as Irma, this season's other category five hurricane. | The storm is moving roughly along the same track as Irma, this season's other category five hurricane. |
| Local officials said one person was killed by a falling tree in the overseas French territory of Guadeloupe. | Local officials said one person was killed by a falling tree in the overseas French territory of Guadeloupe. |
| At least two others were missing after their ship sank near Desirade, the easternmost island in the archipelago. | At least two others were missing after their ship sank near Desirade, the easternmost island in the archipelago. |
| The governor of Puerto Rico, a US territory, has told the island's 3.5 million people to seek shelter as the hurricane is poised to make landfall overnight. | The governor of Puerto Rico, a US territory, has told the island's 3.5 million people to seek shelter as the hurricane is poised to make landfall overnight. |
| Officials there fear the debris left by Irma earlier this month could now prove extremely dangerous in the winds of Maria. | Officials there fear the debris left by Irma earlier this month could now prove extremely dangerous in the winds of Maria. |
| What do we know of the damage on Dominica? | What do we know of the damage on Dominica? |
| The former British colony, which has a population of 72,000 and is less than 50km long and 25km wide, escaped the worst of 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 the worst of Hurricane Irma two weeks ago. |
| But on Monday the eye of the new category five storm passed directly over, making landfall at 21:00 local time (01:00 GMT Tuesday). The island has no communications. | But on Monday the eye of the new category five storm passed directly over, making landfall at 21:00 local time (01:00 GMT Tuesday). The island has no communications. |
| The roof of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit's official residence was blown off in the storm. | The roof of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit's official residence was blown off in the storm. |
| "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," he said in a Facebook post. | "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," he said in a Facebook post. |
| "So far the winds have swept away the roofs of almost every person I have spoken to or otherwise made contact with. | "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." | "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." |
| Air and sea ports would probably be "inoperable for a few days", the prime minister added. | Air and sea ports would probably be "inoperable for a few days", the prime minister added. |
| Where else has Maria passed? | Where else has Maria passed? |
| As the hurricane struck in the middle of the night it has been difficult to assess the extent of the damage so far. | As the hurricane struck in the middle of the night it has been difficult to assess the extent of the damage so far. |
| The French territory of Martinique has been hit by power cuts but is thought to have escaped serious damage. | The French territory of Martinique has been hit by power cuts but is thought to have escaped serious damage. |
| Images show flooding in Guadeloupe while there are reports of flooding, mudslides and power outages in parts of St Lucia. | Images show flooding in Guadeloupe while there are reports of flooding, mudslides and power outages in parts of St Lucia. |
| Jacques Witkowski, the head of French civil security, told reporters in Paris that it was too soon to assess the damage in Guadeloupe. | Jacques Witkowski, the head of French civil security, told reporters in Paris that it was too soon to assess the damage in Guadeloupe. |
| But local government officials in the French territory described weather conditions as "very bad" with violent winds. | But local government officials in the French territory described weather conditions as "very bad" with violent winds. |
| About 80,000 homes were without power there, a government statement said. | About 80,000 homes were without power there, a government statement said. |
| Where next? | Where next? |
| A storm surge - rising seawater coming in from the coast - is expected to bring "life-threatening" swells of up to 9ft (2.7m) above ground in the US and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, National Hurricane Center forecasters said. | A storm surge - rising seawater coming in from the coast - is expected to bring "life-threatening" swells of up to 9ft (2.7m) above ground in the US and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, National Hurricane Center forecasters said. |
| Heavy rainfall of around 25in (63cm) was expected near Puerto Rico and up to 20in in the US and British Virgin Islands. | Heavy rainfall of around 25in (63cm) was expected near Puerto Rico and up to 20in in the US and British Virgin Islands. |
| Puerto Rico's public safety commissioner, Hector Pesquera, issued a stern warning to island residents. | Puerto Rico's public safety commissioner, Hector Pesquera, issued a stern warning to island residents. |
| "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." |
| Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello said there were 500 shelters that could house more than 100,000 people. | Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello said there were 500 shelters that could house more than 100,000 people. |
| Mr Rossello warned the storm could be "devastating and catastrophic", adding that he expected to lose a lot of infrastructure, he told CNN. | Mr Rossello warned the storm could be "devastating and catastrophic", adding that he expected to lose a lot of infrastructure, he told CNN. |
| He added the Federal Emergency Management Agency was on hand to bring drinking water and help to restore power after the storm. | He added the Federal Emergency Management Agency was on hand to bring drinking water and help to restore power after the storm. |
| Tropical storm warnings were issued for Antigua and Barbuda, Saba, St Eustatius, St Martin, Anguilla and Martinique. | Tropical storm warnings were issued for Antigua and Barbuda, Saba, St Eustatius, St Martin, Anguilla and Martinique. |
| UK territories prepare for worst | UK territories prepare for worst |
| 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. |
| 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 |