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| Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands brace for 'extremely dangerous' Category 4 hurricane Maria | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Hurricane Maria has been upgraded to an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 hurricane by the National Hurricane Center as it tracks towards the already storm-battered Caribbean islands. | |
| The eye of the hurricane is expected to pass near Dominica in the next few hours, according to the latest public advisory issued at 9 pm GMT. | |
| A Hurricane Warning has been issued for Puerto Rico, Culebra,and Vieques. Maria is likely to affect Puerto Rico as “an extremely dangerous major hurricane,” according to the National Hurricane Center. | |
| It also adds that the possibility of a life threatening storm surge has increased for the Leeward and Virgin Islands. | |
| The US territory of Puerto Rico is preparing for the hurricane to hit the island Wednesday morning. Starting midday Tuesday, conditions will begin to deteriorate and the island could get between 12 and 18 inches of rain, according to Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello. | |
| “Flood prone areas must be abandoned,” Public Security Secretary Héctor Pesquera said. “If not, you will die.” Officials have ordered four areas to be evacuated. | “Flood prone areas must be abandoned,” Public Security Secretary Héctor Pesquera said. “If not, you will die.” Officials have ordered four areas to be evacuated. |
| Hurricane Irma passed near Puerto Rico less than two weeks ago, leaving three people on the island dead and around one million without electricity. | Hurricane Irma passed near Puerto Rico less than two weeks ago, leaving three people on the island dead and around one million without electricity. |
| But Irma largely spared the island, passing about 50 miles to the north and causing mainly wave damage. | But Irma largely spared the island, passing about 50 miles to the north and causing mainly wave damage. |
| Puerto Rico has not been hit by a Category 5 hurricane since 1928. The last Category 4 storm struck in 1932. | Puerto Rico has not been hit by a Category 5 hurricane since 1928. The last Category 4 storm struck in 1932. |
| Both the US and British Virgin Islands, on the other hand, were devastated by Irma, which left “apocalyptic” damage in its wake, according to Stacey Plaskett, US Virgin Islands delegate to the House of Representatives. Irma killed four people on the US side of the islands, and another four on the British. | Both the US and British Virgin Islands, on the other hand, were devastated by Irma, which left “apocalyptic” damage in its wake, according to Stacey Plaskett, US Virgin Islands delegate to the House of Representatives. Irma killed four people on the US side of the islands, and another four on the British. |
| US Virgin Islands authorities pleaded with residents on Sunday to abandon already-damaged properties. | US Virgin Islands authorities pleaded with residents on Sunday to abandon already-damaged properties. |
| “It’s critical people make the tough decision to walk away from their property and take along what is most important — their loved ones,” Governor Kenneth Mapp said. | “It’s critical people make the tough decision to walk away from their property and take along what is most important — their loved ones,” Governor Kenneth Mapp said. |
| “Maria is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches across the central and southern Leeward Islands, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, through Wednesday night,” the National Hurricane Center warned. | “Maria is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches across the central and southern Leeward Islands, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, through Wednesday night,” the National Hurricane Center warned. |
| Tropical storm warnings and watches were issued for Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Martinique, and Antigua and Barbuda, among others. | Tropical storm warnings and watches were issued for Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Martinique, and Antigua and Barbuda, among others. |
| Most models, as of Monday morning, are forecasting Maria to stay away from Florida and the United States mainland. | Most models, as of Monday morning, are forecasting Maria to stay away from Florida and the United States mainland. |
| More than 40 people were killed earlier this month, as Category 5 Hurricane Irma battered islands in the Caribbean. | More than 40 people were killed earlier this month, as Category 5 Hurricane Irma battered islands in the Caribbean. |