Puerto Ricans have been given the stark warning to "evacuate or die" as Hurricane Maria hurtles across the Caribbean.
The Category Five storm, which has already claimed one victim, was on course to lash Puerto Rico on Wednesday morning, the US National Hurricane Center said.
As heavy rain began to swamp the island on Tuesday night, Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello warned that Maria could hit "with a force and violence that we haven't seen for several generations."
Gov Rossello said in a statement: “We're going to lose a lot of infrastructure in Puerto Rico.
Evacuees shelter in a school in Puerto RicoAFP/Getty Images"We're going to have to rebuild."
Residents living in flimsy wooden huts were urged to flee for their lives as the “potentially catastrophic” storm raged towards the coast.
The island’s public safety commissioner Hector Pesquera said: “You have to evacuate. Otherwise, you're going to die.”
The storm caused devastation in DomincaAPMaria’s eye was set to slam into the US Virgin Islands as it followed closely in the path of deadly Hurricane Irma.
Governor Kenneth Mapp pleaded with residents not to sleep between the hours of 11pm and 4am (local time).
He said in a statement: “For folks in their homes, I really recommend that you not be in any kind of sleepwear.
Terrified residents stock up on supplies before the storm hitsGetty Images“Make sure you have your shoes on. Make sure you have a jacket around.
“Something for your head in case your roof should breach. ... I don't really recommend you be sleeping from 11 o'clock to 4 (a.m.). ... Be aware of what's going on around you."
Islanders board up windows of a business in Puerto RicoAFP/Getty ImagesThe island of Dominica was ravaged by the storm as it made landfall on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit posted haunting messages on Facebook saying it had left behind “mind-boggling” destruction.
Hurricane Maria is heading straight towards Puerto Rico and the British Virgin IslandsEPABy Tuesday night, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Maria's winds had intensified to 175 mph and warned additional strengthening was possible.
At 11 pm Maria was centred about 120 miles southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was moving west-northwest at 10 mph.
The islands are still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Irma two weeks ago, which left dozens dead and flattened buildings across the Caribbean.
Maria caused widespread destruction as it made landfallAFP/Getty ImagesMaria had briefly been downgraded to a category four storm after making landfall in Dominica on Monday, but US Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft reported it had returned to the highest level.
Emergency steps are being undertaken on the BVI to prepare for the looming onslaught, although an official co-ordinating the operation has warned the islands had been "weakened" by Irma and the situation "doesn't look good".
Pictures have emerged of residents the British Virgin Islands as people brace for more destruction.
Another British overseas territory, Montserrat, has been issued with a hurricane warning amid fears Maria could bring a devastating storm surge, while torrential rain could trigger deadly flash floods.
UK International Development Secretary Priti Patel said the Government is under no illusion about the possible impact of the strengthening hurricane and said they were taking steps to prepare communities.
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The Foreign Office is advising against all travel to the BVI, warning residents to identify shelter "immediately" and be ready to take cover when the hurricane approaches, as well as all but essential travel to Montserrat.
Brigadier John Ridge, the second in command of the UK's Joint Task Force, said whichever direction the hurricane went, "it is bad".
"They are either going to get the wind, which will pick up all the debris that is lying around," he said.
"And also, irritatingly, where they have made progress in getting covers over the houses and power lines up, it will potentially damage that again.
"Or they get a huge amount of rain, which is also bad because of the blockages in the drainage channels - so the potential for some quite serious flooding as well.
"Whatever happens, it doesn't look good sadly."
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Meanwhile the NHC has issued a hurricane watch, meaning hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the area, for the island of Anguilla, a British overseas territory badly affected by Hurricane Irma.
Up to 15in (38cm) of rain is predicted to fall as Maria barrels across the Caribbean, with "isolated maximum amounts of 20in (51cm)" expected to deluge the British Virgin Islands.
In Anguilla up to 8in (20cm) could be recorded. The NHC has warned that "rainfall on these islands could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides".