As Hurricane Maria approaches, Global Affairs is warning Canadians to 鈥渁void all travel鈥� to more than a dozen islands in the eastern Caribbean and asking those on the affected islands to 鈥渓eave by commercial means while they are still available and if it is safe to do so.鈥�
The U.S National Hurricane Center said Monday evening that Maria had intensified into 鈥渁n extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane.鈥� Hurricane watches and warnings have been issued for many parts of the region.
On Monday, the Government of Canada updated its to including warnings against all travel to:
- Saint-Barthélemy
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Montserrat
- Dominica
- Guadeloupe
- Martinique
- Saint Lucia
- Puerto Rico
- Sint Maarten
- Anguilla
- Virgin Islands (U.S.)
- British Virgin Islands
- Saint Martin
Global Affairs also issued a statement recommending that all Canadians who are travelling abroad register through the free which is used to notify travellers in case of an emergency or natural disaster.
As of Monday afternoon, approximately 5,000 Canadians in the path of Hurricane Maria had already registered, according to a Global Affairs spokesperson .
鈥淐anadians should contact their loved ones who may be in harm鈥檚 way to ensure that they are aware of the latest recommendations,鈥� Global Affairs said earlier in the day. 鈥淭ravellers should also contact their friends and family at home to let them know they are safe.鈥�
Global Affairs said it is 鈥渋n contact with airlines to confirm their plans for Canadians travelling to the affected areas.鈥�
Canadians requiring emergency consular assistance are advised to contact the nearest Canadian government office or the Global Affairs Canada鈥檚 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa, by calling collect to +1 613 996 8885 or emailing sos@international.gc.ca.
The government faced over its response to Hurricane Irma, after hundreds of Canadians were stuck on the devastated islands of St. Maarten and Turks and Caicos before commercial flights could get them home.
