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| Hurricane Maria strengthens to category five storm | Hurricane Maria strengthens to category five storm |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hurricane Maria has strengthened to a "potentially catastrophic" category five storm, US forecasters say, as it bears down on islands in the Caribbean. | Hurricane Maria has strengthened to a "potentially catastrophic" category five storm, US forecasters say, as it bears down on islands in the Caribbean. |
| The island of Dominica is one of the first in its path, facing sustained winds of 260km/h (160mph). | |
| Maria is moving roughly along the same track as Irma, the hurricane that devastated the region this month. | |
| Martinique declared a maximum-level alert while another French island, Guadeloupe, ordered evacuations. | Martinique declared a maximum-level alert while another French island, Guadeloupe, ordered evacuations. |
| Hurricane warnings are also in place for: | Hurricane warnings are also in place for: |
| Warnings are also in effect for St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat and St Lucia while hurricane watches are in place for St Martin, Saba, St Eustatius and Anguilla. | Warnings are also in effect for St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat and St Lucia while hurricane watches are in place for St Martin, Saba, St Eustatius and Anguilla. |
| Some of these islands are still recovering after being hit by Hurricane Irma - another category five hurricane which left at least 37 people dead and caused billions of dollars' worth of damage. | |
| The islands bearing the brunt of Maria are part of the Leeward Islands chain and include Antigua and Barbuda. The latter was evacuated after being devastated by Irma. | |
| The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) increased the strength of Maria in just a few hours on Monday from a category two storm, to a category four and then to category five - the highest level. | The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) increased the strength of Maria in just a few hours on Monday from a category two storm, to a category four and then to category five - the highest level. |
| Forecasters warned that heavy rainfall caused by the hurricane "could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides". | Forecasters warned that heavy rainfall caused by the hurricane "could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides". |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 has ordered low-lying areas on the islands to be evacuated, AFP reports. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |