Maria’s Destruction Across the Caribbean

A man rides his bicycle through a damaged road in Toa Alta, west of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 24. Ricardo Arduengo—AFP/Getty Images

The storm killed at least nine and left Puerto Rico without power

By Lisa Marie Segarra and Kim Bubello

Hurricane Maria devastated an already battered Caribbean, which was recovering after Hurricane Irma hit weeks before. The entire island of Puerto Rico was left without power and at least nine people have died across the Caribbean.

“Months and months and months and months are going to pass before we can recover from this,” Felix Delgado, mayor of Catano, Puerto Rico, told the Associated Press.

While St. Croix was spared from facing the brunt of Hurricane Irma’s damage, the island faced five hours of hurricane force winds from Maria. The hurricane claimed 31 lives throughout the Caribbean, according to AP. Dominica alone bore 15 fatalities.

After downgrading to a tropical storm, Maria has strengthened to a hurricane once again Wednesday morning, possibly bringing tropical storm-force winds to North Carolina through Wednesday.

David Cruz Marrero watches the waves at Punta Santiago pier hours before the imminent impact of Maria, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 19. Carlos Giusti—AP

Trees are toppled in a parking lot at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 20. Hector Retamal—AFP/Getty Images

People take shelter at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 20. Hector Retamal—AFP/Getty Images

A motorist drives on the flooded waterfront in Fort-de-France, on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, on Sept. 19. Lionel Chamoiseau—AFP/Getty Images

Locals rest inside a shelter before the arrival of the Hurricane Maria in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on Sept. 20. Ricardo Rojas—Reuters

A parking lot is flooded near Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 20. Hector Retamal—AFP/Getty Images

Flooded streets are seen in San Juan, Puerto Rico after the passage of Hurricane Maria, on Sept. 21. Hector Retamal—AFP/Getty Images

A damaged boat is seen on the mangles after the area was hit by Hurricane Maria in Salinas, Puerto Rico on Sept. 21. Carlos Garcia Rawlins—Reuters

Residents clear the streets, after Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, on Sept. 21. Alex Wroblewski—Getty Images

Residents bathe in a natural spring in the hill town of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico on Sept. 25. Victor J. Blue—The New York Times/Redux

A resident stands at her doorstep as she looks at the waves in Saint-Pierre, on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, after it was hit by Hurricane Maria, on Sept. 19. Lionel Chamoiseau—AFP/Getty Images

Toppled trees lie on a tennis court after Hurricane Maria battered St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands on Sept. 21. Jonathan Drake—Reuters

Cars drive through a flooded road in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 21. Ricardo Arduengo—AFP/Getty Images

A woman pulls a trash can past a destroyed home as Hurricane Maria hits Puerto Rico in Fajardo, on Sept. 20. Ricardo Arduengo—AFP/Getty Images

San Juan is seen during a blackout after Hurricane Maria made landfall on Sept. 20. Alex Wroblewski—Getty Images

Residents seek shelter inside Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 20. Hector Retamal—AFP/Getty Images

U.S. and Puerto Rico flags hang on a damaged church after the area was hit by Hurricane Maria in Carolina, Puerto Rico on Sept. 26. Carlos Garcia Rawlins—Reuters

This post will be updated