Islands bracing themselves for Maria

UK troops and residents are bracing themselves as the “potentially catastrophic” Hurricane Maria sweeps towards British overseas territories already battered by Irma.

As it bears down on the British Virgin Islands (BVI), the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) has said the category five storm has already unleashed sustained winds of 175mph.

The centre said preparations against a “life-threatening storm surge and rainfall, flooding and destructive winds” should be “rushed to completion”.

Maria has already claimed one life, as officials on the French island of Guadeloupe confirmed a person was killed by a falling tree, and two are missing after their boat sank.

Dominica lost nearly all its communications as Maria knocked out phone lines and the island’s broadcast service, and 70% of properties lost their roofs.

Describing the storm as “potentially catastrophic” the NHC said: “Maria is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous category four or five hurricane until it moves near or over t he Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.”

Emergency steps are being undertaken.

Relief workers are racing to secure debris l eft strewn across the islands after Irma, as loose items have the potential to make the coming hurricane “more hazardous”. QUIZ ANSWERS: 1. 1948. 2. Lodge. 3. Spanish. 4. Opposite the Arctic. 5. Wheat. 6. River Somme. Missing link: FISH.