This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-41314881

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Hurricane Maria becomes an 'extremely dangerous' storm Hurricane Maria becomes 'extremely dangerous' storm
(35 minutes later)
Hurricane Maria has strengthened to an "extremely dangerous" category four hurricane, US forecasters say, as it heads towards the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean. Hurricane Maria has strengthened to an "extremely dangerous" category four storm, US forecasters say, as it heads towards the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean.
It is due to hit the islands on Monday night local time.It is due to hit the islands on Monday night local time.
Maria is moving roughly along the same path as Irma, the hurricane that devastated the region this month.Maria is moving roughly along the same path as Irma, the hurricane that devastated the region this month.
A hurricane watch is in effect for Puerto Rico, St Martin, St Barts, Saba, St Eustatius and Anguilla. A hurricane watch is in place for Puerto Rico, St Martin, St Barts, Saba, St Eustatius and Anguilla.
Hurricane warnings have been issued for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Martinique, St Lucia and the US and British Virgin Islands.Hurricane warnings have been issued for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Martinique, St Lucia and the US and British Virgin Islands.
Some of these islands are still recovering after being hit by Hurricane Irma - a category five hurricane which left at least 37 people dead and caused billions of dollars' worth of damage.Some of these islands are still recovering after being hit by Hurricane Irma - a category five hurricane which left at least 37 people dead and caused billions of dollars' worth of damage.
The Leeward Islands - where Maria will first strike - includes Antigua and Barbuda. The latter island was evacuated after being devastated by Hurricane Irma. The Leeward Islands, where Maria will first strike, include Antigua and Barbuda. The latter island was evacuated after being devastated by Hurricane Irma.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned that heavy rainfall caused by the hurricane "could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides".The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned that heavy rainfall caused by the hurricane "could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides".
"Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion," the NHC said. It also forecasts a maximum potential rainfall of 51cm (20in) in the central and southern Leeward Islands - including Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands - through to Wednesday night.
It also forecasts a maximum potential rainfall of 51cm (20in) in some areas of the central and southern Leeward Islands - including Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands - through to Wednesday night. In the British Virgin Islands, the authorities fear Maria could whip up debris left behind by Hurricane Irma.
In the British Virgin Islands, the authorities fear Maria could whip up and throw the debris left behind by Hurricane Irma. Lt Col Paul Maynard, a Royal Marine deployed to the British Virgin Islands, told the Press Association the hurricane could pick the debris up, "spin it around, and throw it like ammunition".
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Maynard, a Royal Marine deployed to the British Virgin Islands, told the Press Association the hurricane could pick the debris up, "spin it around, and throw it like ammunition".
"It could cause potentially more casualties and fatalities than Irma did," he added."It could cause potentially more casualties and fatalities than Irma did," he added.
The UK Government says it is "concerned that Hurricane Maria, which is strengthening as it approaches the Leeward Islands, could hit the UK's Overseas Territories in the Caribbean already affected as well as Montserrat." The British government said more than 1,300 troops were staying put in the region and an additional military team had been deployed to the British Virgin Islands.
It said more than 1300 military troops are staying put in the region and an additional 42 strong military resilience team has been deployed to the British Virgin Islands prior to Hurricane Maria. In the French territory of Guadeloupe, schools, businesses and government buildings have all been closed and severe flooding is predicted. The French government has ordered low-lying areas on the islands to be evacuated, AFP reports.
In the French territory of Guadeloupe, schools, businesses and government buildings have all been closed and severe flooding is predicted. The French government have ordered low-lying areas on the islands to be evacuated, AFP report.
Preparations have also begun in Puerto Rico, where Maria is expected to bring strong winds on Tuesday.Preparations have also begun in Puerto Rico, where Maria is expected to bring strong winds on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, Irma left more than two-thirds of homes on the Dutch side of the island of St Martin (known as Sint Maarten) uninhabitable, with no electricity, gas or drinking water.
The French government has said its side of St Martin - known as Saint-Martin - sustained about €1.2bn ($1.44bn; £1.1bn) in damage, with nine deaths across Saint-Martin and nearby St Barts.
On the British Virgin Islands, entire neighbourhoods were flattened.
After a visit to the area, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described the damage as something "you see in images from the First World War".
Virgin boss Richard Branson, who has a home in the Virgin Islands, has been tweeting ahead of the Maria's predicted arrival, warning people to stay safe.
The Puerto Rican government has issued a statement saying it expects the hurricane to make landfall there as a category three on Tuesday.
The US territory escaped the worst of the damage from Irma - although it experienced widespread power cuts - and it has been an important hub for getting relief to islands that were more badly affected.
"Puerto Rico is our lifeline," Judson Burdon, a resident of Anguilla, told Reuters news agency. "We had two volunteer flights cancel because of the weather that is coming."
Irma also hit the US, where several dozen deaths were linked to the hurricane. Nearly 6.9 million homes were left without power in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama.
A second hurricane, Jose, is also active in the Atlantic, with maximum sustained winds of 90mph.
The centre of Jose was about 265 miles east-south-east of Cape Hatteras in North Carolina, the NHC said in its advisory at 18:00 GMT on Monday.