EL SEIBO, Dominican Republic (Reuters) — Hurricane Maria pounded parts of the Dominican Republic with heavy rain on Thursday (September 21), causing severe flooding especially in eastern parts of the country before regaining some of its strength.
This was as it moved towards the Turks and Caicos Islands and southeastern Bahamas on Thursday night.
Maria’s powerful winds knocked out power in most parts in the north of the country, emergency responders said.
The intense rain sent many of the country’s rivers over their banks, flooding cities and small towns, and destroying homes sending thousands to seek safety in shelters.
The second major hurricane to rage through the Caribbean this month, Maria has killed at least 18 people and devastated several small islands, including St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands and Dominica.
Maria is now a Category 3 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds of up to 125 miles per hour (205 kilometers per hour) and is 80 miles (130 km) southeast of Grand Turk Island, the US National Hurricane Center said.