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Hurricane Maria: Dominica PM records storm's fury live on Facebook

Facebook Facebook post by Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit: The winds are merciless! We shall survive by the grace of God!Facebook

The fury with which Hurricane Maria tore into the Caribbean island of Dominica was revealed in a series of Facebook posts by its Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

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As the core of the category five storm slammed into the island with sustained winds of 260km/h (160mph), Mr Skerrit described its impact on those hunkering down.

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One meteorologist said Dominica was being "obliterated". Mr Skerrit could clearly feel the force of the storm.

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Then, as the winds tore the roof from the building, the PM seemed to think all might be lost.

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But it appears help was at hand.

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Mr Skerrit later posted a statement on Facebook describing "widespread devastation" with winds having swept away the roofs of "almost every person I have spoken to or otherwise made contact with".

He said that news of serious injury and possible death resulting from landslides triggered by persistent rainfall was "my greatest fear".

Mr Skerrit said that his focus was now on rescuing those trapped and providing medical assistance to the injured.

"We will need help, my friend, we will need help of all kinds," he added.

Facebook Dominica's PM Roosevelt Skerrit left a statement on Facebook describing how Hurricane Maria had "swept away roofs"Facebook

The eye of Hurricane Maria, which strengthened to a category five storm before making landfall on the Caribbean island, is moving roughly along the same track as Irma, the hurricane that devastated the region earlier this month.