Hurricane Maria devastates Puerto Rico, entire island without power

Hurricane Maria weakened to a Category 2 storm after devastating Puerto Rico on Wednesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center announced on Thursday, world media report, citing the Patria agency.

Maria is the second destructive hurricane to hit the Caribbean islands in less than two weeks. The hurricane caused enormous damage on the island, tore off numerous roofs and triggered catastrophic flooding.

Due to the effects of the storm with winds of up to 175 kilometers per hour, the island's governor Ricardo Rossello Nevares asked U.S. President Donald Trump to declare a state of disaster on the island.

- This is the most terrifying storm of the century or even modern history. Who knows what the damage will be - Nevares told CNN.

The entire island is without power, and restoring electricity will be one of the biggest challenges, say Puerto Rican authorities, who estimate it could take up to four months, or even longer.

The hurricane killed at least eight people as it passed through the Caribbean.

Maria is the 13th storm in the Atlantic this year, the seventh hurricane of the season and the fourth major hurricane stronger than Category 3 - after Harvey, Irma and Jose.

All these figures are above average for a typical season, which is roughly only halfway through.