UK territories prepare for fresh battering as Hurricane Maria strengthens

Hurricane Maria has intensified rapidly as it heads towards British overseas territories and the Caribbean, with islands facing the prospect of a second major storm battering the region just days after Irma.

International Development Secretary Priti Patel said the Government was under no illusion about the possible impact of Maria and was taking steps to prepare communities.

The National Hurricane Centre based in Miami said the weather front was predicted to be a category three hurricane, with winds of up to 125mph poised to lash islands in its path.

“Additional rapid strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Maria is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane as it moves through the Leeward Islands and the north-east Caribbean sea,” the centre said.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is advising against all travel to Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and Montserrat – with hurricane warnings in place for the latter two.

Maria is expected to make landfall this evening as it moves through the Leeward lslands.

Ms Patel said British troops, police and aid experts were “working relentlessly” to help the victims of Irma, and said they would now be tasked with also preparing for the impact of Maria.

“We are under no illusions about the possible impact of Hurricane Maria and are taking every measure possible to prepare communities which have already been devastated by Hurricane Irma,” she said.

Up to 12 inches of rain is predicted to fall, with “isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches” expected to hit the British Virgin Islands through Wednesday night.

In Anguilla, a maximum amount of up to 8ins could fall. The National Hurricane Centre has warned that “rainfall on these islands could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides”.

Warnings of surges which may be 9ft higher than normal tide levels have also been issued.

Chris Austin, head of the UK’s Joint Task force, said: “We are planning for the unexpected, we are planning for the worst.

“We need to demonstrate our own resilience because there is a real chance that Hurricane Maria may significantly impact on our existing efforts to provide relief.”

Ahead of Maria making landfall, UK experts have been working closely with national authorities to prepare for the approaching hurricane, which comes less than two weeks after Irma.

DFID, the military and other government departments are already working on plans to deal with the hurricane’s aftermath and are in close contact with governors’ offices.

This includes getting people to public shelters and securing loose materials and debris which could cause further injuries.