'Widespread devastation' as Maria lashes Dominica

Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says his Caribbean island nation has suffered "widespread devastation" after Hurricane Maria.

"So far we have lost all what money can buy and replace," he said as the storm churned and plowed through the tiny island on Tuesday.

Maria made landfall on Dominica as a Category 5 storm at around 01:15 GMT with top winds swirling at 257km/h, according to the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC).

It was later downgraded to a Category 4 storm, but remained an "extremely dangerous hurricane", the Miami-based centre said.

Skerrit, who had to be rescued after winds tore off the roof to his official residence, said he feared serious injuries and even deaths on the island, home to about 72,000 people.

The winds have "swept away the roofs of almost every person I have spoken to or otherwise made contact with", Skerrit said. "My focus now is in rescuing the trapped and securing medical assistance for the injured."

UCJ, UNILORIN.