Hurricane Maria death toll rises as UK teams continue relief effort

Relief effort: Assault Engineers clearing a flooded section of North Coast Road, south of Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, following Hurricane Maria
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Hatty Collier22 September 2017

At least 15 people are dead and 20 others missing after Hurricane Maria devastated Dominica, the Caribbean island’s prime minister has said.

A tearful Roosevelt Skerrit said it was a “miracle” that the death toll was not in the hundreds.

Two deaths have so far been confirmed on the French island of Guadeloupe, and one so far in Puerto Rico, bringing the total so far to at least 18.

The centre of the Category 4 storm hit Dominica with massive force late Monday night and early Tuesday, destroying hundreds of homes and cutting off the mountainous island’s communication systems and shutting its airport.

Devastation: Maria caused carnage in Dominica (AFP)
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It went on to hit neighbouring Puerto Rico and left the whole island without power.

Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
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“So far, we would have buried in excess of 15 people,” Mr Skerrit told a local TV network.

He added that Dominica was going to need “all the help the world has to offer.”

Hurricane Maria: Aerial footage shows Dominica destruction

Mr Roosevelt cried as he spoke to a reporter on the nearby island of Antigua and said: “It’s been brutal. We’ve never seen such destruction.”

It came as UK aid teams arrived in Dominica. On Thursday, they said they believed up to 90 per cent of buildings on the island have been damaged or destroyed.

Hurricane Maria - In pictures

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The US Coast Guard, US Navy and the Royal Navy are searching for a boat that went missing off Puerto Rico during the hurricane, with two adults and two children aboard.

The coastguard in Miami said the Ferrel sent a distress call on Wednesday saying it was disabled and adrift in seas with 20ft waves and 100mph winds.

Communications were lost with the boat near Vieques, Puerto Rico.

The search includes an HC-130 plane, a fast response cutter, the USS Kearsage amphibious assault ship and navy helicopters.

The International Development Secretary Priti Patel said aid teams were making sure the affected Caribbean islands have the supplies they need.

A troop from Alpha Company shaking hands with a local resident in the remote west of Tortola, following Hurricane Maria
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Ms Patel called the second major hurricane to impact the region in just two weeks an "unprecedented crisis", as a Department for International Development (DfID) team arrived on to assess the damage.

"Our focus now is on making sure the islands affected have the right supplies in the right places to deal with the aftermath of the latest hurricane," she said.

It was the strongest storm in more than 80 years to sweep across the Dominica, with Maria flattening homes and plunging the entire island into darkness after taking down power lines.

Widespread flooding has also been reported, with some streets turned into raging rivers by the deluge of rain water.

Assault Engineers clearing a flooded section of North Coast Road, south of Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, following Hurricane Maria
PA

The British Virgin Islands, which suffered the wrath of Irma resulting in widespread devastation, was "spared the worst" of Maria and initial assessments suggest fresh damage was relatively low.

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson, whose private island was battered by Irma, said Maria “brought lots of howling rain”.

Richard Branson posted this picture from Puerto Rico after revealing the devastation to Necker Island
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DfID said another UK aid team has also travelled to Montserrat, another British overseas territory, to assess the impact on the island - but that initial reports suggest the damage to buildings is not extensive.

Work to prepare the overseas territory Anguilla for the impact of Hurricane Maria also proved hugely successful in preventing further damage to infrastructure, DfID said.

Two tonnes of corrugated iron was provided to bolster hospital and police stations roofs. Food, tarpaulins, hygiene and shelter kits were also distributed on the island by the Red Cross.

Puerto Rico without power after being hit by Hurricane Maria

Vital supplies, including food, bottled water and shelters, were also delivered to the Turks and Caicos Islands ahead of Maria's arrival, while damage assessments will take place after the hurricane hits.

So far the government has pledged more than £57 million towards the disaster relief.

A Red Cross appeal, boosted by DfID's aid match scheme doubling all public UK donations, has seen more than £2 million raised to date.

More than 75 tonnes of DfID aid is being brought into the region - which includes food, water, 3,000 shelter kits, more than 5,000 solar lanterns and 10,000 buckets.

Another 60 tonnes is steaming towards the Caribbean onboard HMS Ocean - due to arrive in the region on Friday.

Mr Jaspert said the ship and her supplies will allow them to "turbocharge" their ongoing recovery and repair efforts.

On Thursday evening UK time, Maria had regained major hurricane status and had the British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands in its path.

It is expected to pass just east of the islands by Friday morning before weakening as it moves between Bermuda and the eastern coast of the US. The diminishing storm should then move further east of the US and out to sea sometime next week.

The storm is expected to steer clear of the US mainland.

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