Dominica has been “devastated” by Hurricane Maria, the country’s Prime Minister has said.
The powerful storm, which made landfall Monday night, has since been downgraded to a Category 4 with sustained winds of 155 mph.
“We’re just waiting for daybreak to do an assessment of the damage,” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said in the wee hours of this morning.
“Our first order of business will be search and rescue to ensure we can account for every single citizen and residents who were on the island during this really devastating hurricane.”
A statement from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that its record-topping winds reached 160 miles per hour when it hit the island nation. In an update the Center said that reports “indicate significant damage to structures has occurred in Dominica.”
Maria made landfall on Dominica late Monday, coming ashore at 9:15 p.m. ET. It was so powerful that it tore the roof off the Prime Minister’s residence.
“Personally I was affected,” Skerrit said. “The roof of the residence caved in because of the strength of the wind. But I was taken to safe ground by … police officers, thank God.
“This hurricane stayed in the country for a very, very long time and (was) just unrelenting. I don’t think there were very many roofs which would survive the hurricane.”
In a Facebook post he added: “So far we have lost all what money can buy and replace.
“My greatest fear for the morning is that we will wake to news of serious physical injury and possible deaths as a result of likely landslides triggered by persistent rains.”
FULL STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER ROOSEVELT SKERRIT ON THE OUTCOME OF HURRICANE MARIA
Issued via OECS Commission @ 1:13 am, Tuesday 19th September 2017
Initial reports are of widespread devastation. So far we have lost all what money can buy and replace. My greatest fear for the morning is that we will wake to news of serious physical injury and possible deaths as a result of likely landslides triggered by persistent rains.
So, far the winds have swept away the roofs of almost every person I have spoken to or otherwise made contact with. The roof to my own official residence was among the first to go and this apparently triggered an avalanche of torn away roofs in the city and the countryside.
Come tomorrow morning we will hit the road, as soon as the all clear is given, in search of the injured and those trapped in the rubble.
I am honestly not preoccupied with physical damage at this time, because it is devastating…indeed, mind boggling. My focus now is in rescuing the trapped and securing medical assistance for the injured.
We will need help, my friends, we will need help of all kinds.
It is too early to speak of the condition of the air and seaports, but I suspect both will be inoperable for a few days. That is why I am eager now to solicit the support of friendly nations and organisations with helicopter services, for I personally am eager to get up and get around the country to see and determine what’s needed.
