Maria: 3.4M without power in Puerto Rico

Now classified as a Category 3 hurricane, Hurricane Maria continued its destructive path through the Caribbean, battering the British Virgin Islands and devastating Puerto Rico where approximately 3.4 million people have been left without power.

The storm ripped into the Dominican Republic early this morning with heavy rain and high winds, and is expected to hit Turks and Caicos by approximately 8 a.m. Friday (Sept. 22), according to the US National Hurricane Center.

The Canadian government is maintaining a list of advisories for the region, which can be found here.

The following are a list of updates for several islands in the Caribbean that were hit hard by Hurricane Maria:

Dominica

A recent report issued by the Caribbean Tourism Organization states that the hurricane had a horrendous impact on the Dominica. There is a tremendous loss of public buildings and houses, including the local hospital which is critical during this time.

There is no electricity and no running water as a result of uprooted pipes in most communities and no landline or cellphone services on island, making it next to impossible for people to contact one another. The CTO states this will be a problem for quite some time. At least 14 people have been killed in Dominica, and many others are reported as missing, according to CNN.

Puerto Rico

According to CNN, dozens of families were rescued from flooding, and a massive power outage blanketed the entire island, affecting 3.4 million people. Previously, Puerto Rico housed those fleeing other parts of the Caribbean from Hurricane Irma. Officials say it will be several months before power returns to the island.

U.S. Virgin Islands

Communications lines and houses were the major targets by Hurricane Maria. Damage is especially bad in the popular St. Croix area, and tourism officials are urging tourists to reschedule their trips. A curfew has currently been implemented by officials in St. Croix, according to The Weather Channel. Major floods and downed wires have created major safety issues for residents and visitors.

British Virgin Islands Hurricane Maria blasted the British Virgin Islands for the second time in less than two weeks, bringing violent winds at 155 kilometres per hour. Flooding and debris were still evident from Hurricane Irma and major flooding is prominent in the British Virgin Islands, where a curfew is in place to deter looting. The airport remains closed, and mobile communications are still down.

Video contributed by the Caribbean Tourism Organization