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Hurricane Maria: Dominica 'brutalised' by new category five storm – live Hurricane Maria: Dominica 'brutalised' by new category five storm – live
(35 minutes later)
5.53am BST
05:53
Helen Davidson
The prime minister of Dominica has used Facebook to describe in harrowing detail – and in real time – his own rescue from the destruction of Hurricane Maria.
The category five storm passed directly over the island nation of Dominica on Monday night local time. Amid gusts of wind up to 260kmh (160mph) the country’s long-serving leader, Roosevelt Skerrit, rode out the storm from his home.
“The winds are merciless!” wrote 45-year-old Skerrit on Facebook. “We shall survive by the grace of God!”
An hour later as the winds increased he wrote: “We do not know what is happening outside. We not dare look out. All we are hearing is the sound of galvanize [roofing] flying. The sound of the fury of the wind. As we pray for its end!”
Skerrit said he believed his house had sustained damaged, exclaiming: “Rough! Rough! Rough!”
He then confirmed it: “My roof is gone. I am at the complete mercy of the hurricane. House is flooding.”
Roosevelt has not posted since telling his friends and followers: “I have been rescued.”
5.43am BST
05:43
It has been a punishing three hours for the 72,000 residents of Dominica – and it is not yet over, warns the Trinidad and Tobago weather centre, which says the outer bands of Hurricane Maria will continue to move over the island overnight, “exacerbating the devastating flooding situation”:
Dominica has experienced at least 3 hours of sustained winds of 260 KM/H with gusts in excess of 315KM/H. https://t.co/jNAuQUhyHJ
12:20AM Tuesday: Nearly 3 hours after landfall, Category 5 Hurricane Maria's eyewall finally moves off Northeastern Dominica. pic.twitter.com/uYxVLnRg1K
5.33am BST
05:33
Patrick Wintour
The Caribbean-wide response to Hurricane Irma has been piecemeal and there needs to be a new permanent level of coordination, including better international early warning weather systems, Boris Johnson has said.
The British foreign secretary was speaking on Monday at a meeting on the margins of the United Nations general assembly convened by the UK and bringing together British ministers, the French foreign minister Jean-Yves le Drian, the Dutch foreign minister Bert Koenders and leaders from the Caribbean.
Johnson said that “everyone is desperately worried by Hurricane Maria, currently threatening Caribbean islands”.
The meeting heard that islands such as Anguilla will take as long as two years to recover since it is totally dependent on tourism and the hotel industry is devastated.
In his most self-critical comments yet on the international response to the disaster, Johnson described the operation as “all a bit piecemeal and bit hand to mouth”:
If I am being totally honest, people have been ringing each other up and saying, ‘what can we do?’. We don’t need a gigantic new bureaucracy but we do need a smooth way to respond to what is obviously going to be an intensifying pattern of horrific weather events in the Caribbean.
What we are trying to build here is a Caribbean recovery plan. We need an automatic recovery system.
We still have to deal with Hurricane Maria and we need to get supplies to areas that have not been affected by Irma. They have not had the water proofing, and the plywood. We need to coordinate better in our predictions.
5.19am BST5.19am BST
05:1905:19
Mark Brantley, minister of foreign affairs in St Kitts and Nevis, says there is “significant damage” in Dominica, as the storm now heads towards his own islands:Mark Brantley, minister of foreign affairs in St Kitts and Nevis, says there is “significant damage” in Dominica, as the storm now heads towards his own islands:
PM Skerritt of #Dominica has just said the island has been devastated by #HurricaneMaria and asked that we tell the world #PrayForDominicaPM Skerritt of #Dominica has just said the island has been devastated by #HurricaneMaria and asked that we tell the world #PrayForDominica
Early reports suggest significant damage in #Dominica from #HurricaneMaria. We pray for more favorable reports at dawn #PrayForDominicaEarly reports suggest significant damage in #Dominica from #HurricaneMaria. We pray for more favorable reports at dawn #PrayForDominica
UpdatedUpdated
at 5.20am BSTat 5.20am BST
5.01am BST5.01am BST
05:0105:01
Radar reports now show the eye of Hurricane Maria leaving Dominica and moving over the sea.Radar reports now show the eye of Hurricane Maria leaving Dominica and moving over the sea.
Of course, it drags behind it an eyewall, with some hours of strong winds and rains yet to land on the island.Of course, it drags behind it an eyewall, with some hours of strong winds and rains yet to land on the island.
4.57am BST4.57am BST
04:5704:57
Helen DavidsonHelen Davidson
Dominica-based lawyer Anthony Astaphan told Antigua’s Observer Media Group that the wind was “savage”:Dominica-based lawyer Anthony Astaphan told Antigua’s Observer Media Group that the wind was “savage”:
We lost the roof. My total upstairs, the ceiling and everything collapsed. I have two inches of water downstairs.We lost the roof. My total upstairs, the ceiling and everything collapsed. I have two inches of water downstairs.
My god, I can only feel the pain of those who don’t have the house that I have. It was terrible and I just hope people didn’t die.My god, I can only feel the pain of those who don’t have the house that I have. It was terrible and I just hope people didn’t die.
4.51am BST4.51am BST
04:5104:51
The US Virgin Islands are bracing themselves for the arrival of Hurricane Maria within 24 hours.The US Virgin Islands are bracing themselves for the arrival of Hurricane Maria within 24 hours.
Governor Kenneth Mapp urged residents to finish their preparations for shelter and supplies, adding:Governor Kenneth Mapp urged residents to finish their preparations for shelter and supplies, adding:
We are going to have a very, very long night.We are going to have a very, very long night.
Maria is forecast to travel 22 miles (35km) south of the island of St Croix.Maria is forecast to travel 22 miles (35km) south of the island of St Croix.
The islands of St Thomas and St John were badly damaged by Hurricane Irma and remain at risk of further devastating winds and rains.The islands of St Thomas and St John were badly damaged by Hurricane Irma and remain at risk of further devastating winds and rains.
4.28am BST4.28am BST
04:2804:28
Roosevelt Skerrit, the prime minister of Dominica, has been speaking to Caracas-based Telesur TV about the devastation wrought by Maria – the scale of which has yet to be assessed.Roosevelt Skerrit, the prime minister of Dominica, has been speaking to Caracas-based Telesur TV about the devastation wrought by Maria – the scale of which has yet to be assessed.
Skerrit told the station he was rescued from his flooded home by police officers.Skerrit told the station he was rescued from his flooded home by police officers.
Please tell the world that Dominica has been devastated … In the morning we will know how many dead there are …Please tell the world that Dominica has been devastated … In the morning we will know how many dead there are …
We were brutally hit.We were brutally hit.
4.23am BST4.23am BST
04:2304:23
What does it feel like to be in the midst of a hurricane? Neuroscientist Dr Daniel Glaser explains:What does it feel like to be in the midst of a hurricane? Neuroscientist Dr Daniel Glaser explains:
The Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale describes the effects on structures and people, but not what it would feel like. Hearing is the sense most frequently invoked, with winds sounding like a train or a low howl.The Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale describes the effects on structures and people, but not what it would feel like. Hearing is the sense most frequently invoked, with winds sounding like a train or a low howl.
Of course, the most basic response to these events is fear and awe. Our brain generates the fear and that triggers the gut, which feeds back to the brain. The sensation is really part of an indirect loop. If the hurricane struck your body directly that would be a very different story.Of course, the most basic response to these events is fear and awe. Our brain generates the fear and that triggers the gut, which feeds back to the brain. The sensation is really part of an indirect loop. If the hurricane struck your body directly that would be a very different story.
4.14am BST4.14am BST
04:1404:14
There has been no news of casualties from Dominica so far – but, reports Associated Press, this could be because emergency services are yet to leave shelter:There has been no news of casualties from Dominica so far – but, reports Associated Press, this could be because emergency services are yet to leave shelter:
Late Monday, a police official, Inspector Pellam Jno Baptiste, said there were no immediate reports of casualties but it was still too dangerous for officers to do a full assessment as the storm raged outside.Late Monday, a police official, Inspector Pellam Jno Baptiste, said there were no immediate reports of casualties but it was still too dangerous for officers to do a full assessment as the storm raged outside.
“Where we are, we can’t move,” he said in a brief phone interview.“Where we are, we can’t move,” he said in a brief phone interview.
4.10am BST4.10am BST
04:1004:10
Hurricane warnings remain in effect for:Hurricane warnings remain in effect for:
DominicaDominica
GuadeloupeGuadeloupe
MontserratMontserrat
St Kitts & NevisSt Kitts & Nevis
US Virgin IslandsUS Virgin Islands
British Virgin IslandsBritish Virgin Islands
Puerto Rico, Culebra and ViequesPuerto Rico, Culebra and Vieques
3.59am BST3.59am BST
03:5903:59
Latest hurricane reportLatest hurricane report
The latest advisory from the US National Hurricane Center confirms that Maria is moving over Dominica as a category five hurricane.The latest advisory from the US National Hurricane Center confirms that Maria is moving over Dominica as a category five hurricane.
It warns:It warns:
Hurricane conditions should continue over Dominica during the next few hours. Hurricane conditions should spread throughout portions of the hurricane warning area in the Leeward Islands tonight and early Tuesday. Hurricane conditions should spread through the remainder of the hurricane warning area [which includes the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico] Tuesday and Wednesday.Hurricane conditions should continue over Dominica during the next few hours. Hurricane conditions should spread throughout portions of the hurricane warning area in the Leeward Islands tonight and early Tuesday. Hurricane conditions should spread through the remainder of the hurricane warning area [which includes the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico] Tuesday and Wednesday.
Storm surges remain an extreme danger, it says:Storm surges remain an extreme danger, it says:
A dangerous storm surge accompanied by large and destructive waves will raise water levels by as much as 7 to 11 feet (2.1m-3.4m) above normal tide levels in the hurricane warning area near where the centre of Maria moves across the Leeward Islands and the British Virgin Islands.A dangerous storm surge accompanied by large and destructive waves will raise water levels by as much as 7 to 11 feet (2.1m-3.4m) above normal tide levels in the hurricane warning area near where the centre of Maria moves across the Leeward Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.
UpdatedUpdated
at 4.02am BSTat 4.02am BST
3.59am BST3.59am BST
03:5903:59
Maria is the first category five hurricane in recorded history to hit Dominica.Maria is the first category five hurricane in recorded history to hit Dominica.
In 1979, Hurricane David hit the island as a category four storm, the deadliest to date. In all, 56 people died and three-quarters of the population were left homeless.In 1979, Hurricane David hit the island as a category four storm, the deadliest to date. In all, 56 people died and three-quarters of the population were left homeless.
3.49am BST3.49am BST
03:4903:49
The US National Hurricane Center has warned that Maria could yet become more intense, Associated Press reports:The US National Hurricane Center has warned that Maria could yet become more intense, Associated Press reports:
“Maria is developing the dreaded pinhole eye,” the center warned.“Maria is developing the dreaded pinhole eye,” the center warned.
That’s a sign of an extremely strong hurricane likely to get even mightier, said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy. Just like when a spinning ice skater brings in their arms and rotates faster, a smaller, tighter eye shows the same physics, he said.That’s a sign of an extremely strong hurricane likely to get even mightier, said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy. Just like when a spinning ice skater brings in their arms and rotates faster, a smaller, tighter eye shows the same physics, he said.
Maria’s eye shrank to a narrow 10 miles (16km) across. “You just don’t see those in weaker hurricanes,” McNoldy said.Maria’s eye shrank to a narrow 10 miles (16km) across. “You just don’t see those in weaker hurricanes,” McNoldy said.