Hurricane Maria: The force behind Puerto Rico's wreck [PHOTOS]

Classified as a category 5 hurricane, Maria has had a maximum wind speed of 175 miles per hour.

Considered to be an intense Atlantic tropical cyclone, Hurricane Maria hit places which include Puerto Rico, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Martinique and United States Virgin Islands causing deaths and extensive damage in these areas in September 2017. Classified as a category 5 hurricane, the storm has had a maximum wind speed of 175 miles per hour.

The overall losses incurred as a result of the damage is estimated between $15.9 and $95 billion out of which Puerto Rico was most affected.

Hurricane Maria
Local residents ride a horse by a destroyed building after Hurricane Maria in Jayuya. Reuters

Out of 79 deaths caused by the storm, 34 lives were claimed from Puerto Rico alone. The island's power grid was destroyed by the storm leaving its inhabitants suffering without electricity. Even after a fortnight since the hurricane hit, 89 percent of the island was still in want of electricity, 44 percent did not have water service and 58 percent of the land still did not have cell network service. Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate before the storm hit the region as their lives were considered to be at risk and as many as 2000 people had sought shelter prior to the storm. Puerto Rico was declared a Federal Disaster Zone after the hurricane.

Puerto Rican governor Ricardo Rosselló had stated that it would take months before some places had power supply restored. More than 2000 people were rescued by the military rescue team a day after the storm.

Even as citizens of Puerto Rico were still recuperating from the aftermath of Hurricane Irma which had hit the country just two weeks ago, Hurricane Maria's back to back destruction is now affecting their recovery to a very large extent.

IBTimes Singapore has compiled a series of images portraying the aftermath of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico.

Hurricane Maria
A local resident carries a gasoline can as he crosses a river using a cable after Hurricane Maria destroyed the town's bridge in San Lorenzo, Morovis, Puerto Rico. Reuters
Hurricane Maria
A boy looks at his neighbourhood after Hurricane Maria destroyed the town's bridge and the surrounding areas, in San Lorenzo, Morovis, Puerto Rico. Reuters
Hurricane Maria
Local residents walk in a river after Hurricane Maria destroyed the town's bridge in San Lorenzo, Morovis, Puerto Rico. Like many remote villages in Puerto Rico, San Lorenzo is contending with a silent public health crisis in the wake of the strongest hurricane to hit the island in decades: isolation. Reuters
Hurricane Maria
Buildings damaged by Hurricane Maria are seen in Lares. Reuters
Hurricane Maria
Cars drive in the darkness in a neighbourhood that has no electricity in Caguas. Reuters
Hurricane Maria
A member of the Puerto Rican National Guard dodges downed power cables as he hands out food and water to a neighborhood in Ceiba. Reuters
Hurricane Maria
A local resident collects water from a pipe on the side of a road days after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. Reuters
Hurricane Maria
Workers repair part of the electrical grid in Jayuya. Reuters
Hurricane Maria
An aerial view shows damaged trees and buildings. Reuters
Hurricane Maria
A local resident walks along debris in Jayuya. Reuters
Hurricane Maria
Remains of a shed scattered over a basketball court. Reuters
Hurricane Maria
The contents of a damaged home can be seen near the town of Comerio. Reuters
Hurricane Maria
A local resident carries a box of food as he walks along the side of a river after Hurricane Maria destroyed the town's bridge in San Lorenzo, Morovis, Puerto Rico. Reuters

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