US forecasters say Hurricane Maria has strengthened to an "extremely dangerous" category 5 storm as it bears down on islands in the Caribbean.
It is due to hit the US and British Virgin islands, in the coming hours.
Maria is moving roughly along the same path as Irma, the hurricane that devastated the region this month.
Martinique declared a maximum‑level alert while another French island, Guadeloupe, ordered evacuations.
Hurricane warnings were also issued for Puerto Rico, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, St Lucia and the US and British Virgin Islands.
Some of these islands are still recovering after being hit by Hurricane Irma ‑ a category five hurricane which left at least 37 people dead and caused billions of dollars' worth of damage.
US President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency for the US Virgin Islands.
