Hurricane Maria Causes Significant Damage to Dominica

Hurricane Maria, after devastating the shores of the island nation of Dominica, continues its movement westward and northwestward, threatening other areas of the Caribbean Sea, including Puerto Rico. The National Hurricane Center of the United States announced in the early hours of Tuesday, September 19, that although the intensity of the storm has decreased, it still maintains a speed of 250 kilometers per hour, categorizing it as a potentially dangerous storm at a Category 4 level. Meanwhile, Hurricane Jose continues its path northward towards the Atlantic Ocean, threatening the eastern shores of the United States. According to the German news agency, Roosevelt Skerrit, the Prime Minister of Dominica, wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday: 'Hurricane Maria, at Category 5 intensity, has left widespread destruction. This storm has ripped roofs off houses and, in some cases, residents inside them.' He adds: 'My greatest fear is that we will wake up to news of a significant number of injuries and fatalities because, aside from the storm, the intensity of the rain is such that the risk of landslides threatens many lives.' The intensity of Hurricane Maria has reached Category 4 as it heads towards the French archipelago of Guadeloupe from midday on Monday. According to the French meteorological center, the southern regions of Guadeloupe will experience winds of up to 220 kilometers per hour, with waves reaching 10 meters in height, increasing the likelihood of flooding in these areas. The French island of Martinique, south of Dominica, has downgraded its alert level from the highest to gray, but officials have warned residents to remain indoors. The National Hurricane Center warns that despite the decrease in intensity to Category 4, Hurricane Maria, which is moving towards the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, is still considered 'very dangerous.' Hurricane Maria occurs two weeks after Hurricane Irma, which led to the destruction of buildings and homelessness for many, especially in the Caribbean islands. According to the Associated Press, storm warnings have been issued for many islands, including those that were devastated by Hurricane Irma about two weeks ago. In this context, the death toll from Irma has reached 'at least 40,' and Florida remains without power.