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) 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”.

(PA Graphics)
(PA Graphics)

Maria has already claimed one life, as officials on the French island of Guadeloupe confirmed a person was killed by a falling tree, and another 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 according to reports.

Describing the storm as “potentially catastrophic” the NHC said: “Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two, but Maria is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous category four or five hurricane until it moves near or over the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.”

International Development Secretary, Priti Patel, has described the situation as an “unprecedented crisis” and stressed the UK government is “working flat out”.

Emergency steps are being undertaken on the BVI to prepare for the looming onslaught.

Relief workers are racing to secure debris left strewn across the islands after Irma, as loose items have the potential to make the coming hurricane “more hazardous” if it is picked up by high winds.

Brigadier John Ridge, second in command of the UK’s Joint Task Force, said officials are “continuing to track Maria” as it rolls through the Caribbean region.

“Whilst the winds will be strong, it doesn’t look like the BVI will suffer quite the same level of wind as they did under Irma,” he said.

“The real concern is the amount of rain and the storm surge.

“They are predicting between 7ft and 11ft of storm surge, and the problem with the rain is the flooding and run-off associated with that.”

The storm, which devastated Dominica on Monday, is following a similar path to Irma, and is expected to reach the British Virgin Islands early on Wednesday.

Categories of hurricane graphic
(PA Graphics)

Ms Patel said: “This is an unprecedented crisis with two hurricanes of such brutal force hitting the Caribbean in less than a fortnight. Families have lost their homes, lives have been ripped apart, and the victims of Hurricane Irma are now facing the new threat of Hurricane Maria.

“But they should know, the UK government is working flat out to put the right supplies in the right places to cope with the fallout from this new hurricane.”

Hurricane warnings are in place for BVI and Montserrat, with a hurricane watch applied to Anguilla and the Turks and Caicos islands.

The Foreign Office is advising against all travel to the BVI – warning residents to identify shelter “immediately” and be ready to take cover when the hurricane approaches – as well as all but essential travel to Montserrat and Anguilla.

Hurricane Maria arrived in the region less than two weeks after Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful storms in decades.

Dominica suffered “widespread devastation”at the hands of Hurricane Maria, the country’s prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit said – forcing the closure of its airport.

Chris Austin, head of the UK Task Force, said they have had civilians and military “working around the clock” to provide emergency relief in the form of shelter, food and water.

“I’ve been hugely impressed by the resilience and fortitude of the people I have met so far and it’s our obligation in the team to match their resilience and stamina,” he said.

“I know all of the people here are very much up for it. ”

More than 1,300 UK troops are in the Caribbean after being sent to help with relief and repair work after Irma.

An additional 42-strong military resilience team has also been deployed to the BVI, ready to offer support and assistance after Maria.

Brig Ridge said secure buildings, ranging from hotels to government buildings and shelters that are “as safe as possible”, have been identified for the military on BVI to “hunker down in overnight”.

During the storm the troops will make contact at agreed intervals, Brig Ridge said.

RFA Mounts Bay, which is close to BVI, will move out the way of the hurricane to safety, but the moment the storm has passed through, the vessel will be “pushed back in again”.

HMS Ocean, which is carrying another 60 tonnes of aid to complement 75 tonnes of relief items which have already arrived, will drop anchor in the region this weekend.