After ripping through Dominica, which took a direct hit from the storm, Hurricane Maria is now ravaging Puerto Rico. In only a matter of 50 hours, the storm went from a tropical storm to a powerful category 5 storm, which is considered unprecedented.
Puerto Rico is completely out of power, due to extreme flooding, storm surge and winds of more than 150 miles per hour. The storm weakened ever so slightly to a category 4 upon landfall. There are over 500 open shelters in the country, but the integrity of those structures is questionable, according to Governor Ricardo Rosselló.
Many shelters open throughout Puerto Rico now, providing relief from #HurricaneMaria. Keeping our PR Red Crossers in our hearts today. pic.twitter.com/lmMHPez7BT
— Jessica Piffero (@therealjpiff) September 20, 2017
After Puerto Rico, the storm is anticipated to hit Turks and Caicos, as well as the Bahamas, as they are in the “cone of uncertainty.”
In the age of social media, it is incredible to see all of these real-time photos and videos cropping up. But given that so many are without power, there will probably be more footage coming out later this week. Here are some top photos and videos of the storm, which capture the distress in the Caribbean:
Live Look- San Juan,PR! Worst of eyewall now approaching the city. Reports of winds in excess of 118mph reported. Video-David Saliceti pic.twitter.com/dN2a0QbT03
— Tucker Barnes (@TuckerFox5) September 20, 2017
El Retiro, Caguas, Puerto Rico. Foto enviada por un vecino. #HuracanMaria #MaríaPR pic.twitter.com/3ICzBV0eYT
— Susana Sherin (@SusanaSherin) September 20, 2017
Todo inundado, Los Colobos Carolina pic.twitter.com/xxHaIqw39X
— frances guzman (@franeguz) September 20, 2017
Eyewall tearing up the hotel in #Fajardo #HurricaneMaria pic.twitter.com/UGVKfQi1Cl
— Mike Theiss (@MikeTheiss) September 20, 2017
Surging floods in #PuertoRico
Total Devastation.
I PRAY for people there.pic.twitter.com/iNJfbsbCmP— Mark Wix (@Mark_Wix_GASB) September 20, 2017
This is my cousins apartment after #HurricaneIrma in the Virgin Islands. 🇻🇮 I can only imagine what it is after #HurricaneMaria. 🙏🏾😩 pic.twitter.com/4BlTuaL6HR
— Kiki (@Queen_Ki_) September 20, 2017
Hurricane Maria ripped the roofs off these homes in San Juan, Puerto Rico https://t.co/VGpWK7tl7e pic.twitter.com/jnt6nRhRXR
— CNN (@CNN) September 20, 2017
Roofs are peeling off. You can hear the wind. This is in the metropolitan area of Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico. #Maria #HurricaneMaria pic.twitter.com/QNu5fS7DnD
— Rosaline Cabrera (@rosalinetweets) September 20, 2017
Walls being blown apart during extreme wind inside lobby of hotel #HurricaneMaria pic.twitter.com/bL9PUOEzJN
— Mike Theiss (@MikeTheiss) September 20, 2017
#HurricaneMaria about to make landfall in Puerto Rico and damage showing up on the streets of San Juan. pic.twitter.com/40ipBt3EFU
— valentino (@vlnto) September 20, 2017
BREAKING: Hurricane #Maria makes landfall near Yabucoa, Puerto Rico as a 155 mph, category 4 storm. pic.twitter.com/MWs4GsS0Vy
— HurricaneTracker App (@hurrtrackerapp) September 20, 2017
Extreme wind! #HurricaneMaria #PuertoRico
— Abraham Jr. 🇵🇷 (@torrea40) September 20, 2017
Hurricane Maria is a very scary hurricane. The strongest for Puerto Rico since 1928 with top winds of 175 mph.https://t.co/FKHYoFvBDw pic.twitter.com/XZBf0HUxrs
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) September 20, 2017
All of Puerto Rico without power amid Hurricane Maria https://t.co/gh92Qjlwow pic.twitter.com/HhymbVEh4H
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) September 20, 2017
RT newsroom: Take Two: #HurricaneMaria makes landfall as a *category 4* storm. pic.twitter.com/DYXHV6hvwp
— No Limit East Off. (@NoLimitFEast) September 20, 2017
Hurricane Maria looks absolutely massive from space https://t.co/zpTztfYdWn pic.twitter.com/MwrkJ1TDl8
— TIME (@TIME) September 20, 2017
Starting To receive images from Puerto Rico. My sister just sent me this. It’s from Utuado my hometown. #HurricaneMaria pic.twitter.com/STnSEI9yBm
— Antonio Paris (@AntonioParis) September 20, 2017
BREAKING: @ABC confirms 100% of Puerto Rico is now without power. More devastating footage of flooding captured. #HurricaneMaria pic.twitter.com/ziVlgFJjMZ
— Today’sLoop (@TodaysLoop) September 20, 2017
Happening Now: Hurricane Maria Moves Through Puerto Rico With Winds 155 mph.#HurricaneMariapic.twitter.com/i6EvQRXo3a
— ~Marietta️ (@MDavisbot) September 20, 2017
#BREAKING VIDEO: Hurricane #Maria leaving carnage in her wake, this communications tower was ripped to shreds pic.twitter.com/rOuPp2LFTZ
— Al Boe BREAKING NEWS (@AlBoeNEWS) September 20, 2017
Gusty winds currently occurring across Basseterre due to #HurricaneMaria. Stay indoors! pic.twitter.com/ZrDGlxqvzX
— TTWeatherCenter (@TTWeatherCenter) September 19, 2017
Mi gente 💜💙. If there is any groups that anyone knows of who will be heading out to PR please lmk. Personal message me I am working on seeing how 2 get a team 2 gether. #PuertoRico #HurricaneMaria
En estos momentos así está el área turística de Isla Verde. El mar entró por toda la ciudad. #PuertoRico #maria #hurricane
Latest from @NHC_Atlantic has #Maria a Cat 3 with sustained winds of 115 MPH. Loop shows 24 hours of #GOES16 longwave IR imagery. pic.twitter.com/xSpAvPsz3g
— NASA SPoRT (@NASA_SPoRT) September 20, 2017
— Peter Amirata
