'It's insane out here': Canadians desperate to help relatives stranded in Dominica

Local families are growing increasingly concerned for the safety of their relatives stranded in hurricane-ravaged Dominica without enough food, water, power and no way of leaving.

One Toronto woman, Nadia Araujo, says her sister Denise, a student at All Saints Medical School, is stuck there.

"This island is completely destroyed, no water no light. We're scavenging for food and water. It's insane out here. We're waiting to see what will happen. Hopefully we'll be rescued," read the text Araujo received from her sister on Wednesday.

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Hurricane Maria, a Category 5 storm,tore through Dominica Monday night, causing extensive damage to the Caribbean island nation.The country's primeminister,RooseveltSkerrit,described the impact as "mind-boggling" devastation.

Araujospoke to CBC Radio'sMetro Morningon Thursday, her voice shaking as she described the limited updates she was receiving from her sister.

People 'carrying machetes with them'

"She sent me a text message at 7 p.m(Wednesday) saying that she's turning off her phone and that she'd turn it on in the morning," she said. "I haven't heard from her so hopefullynothing happened to her during the night.I've been text messaging, telling her I'm doing everything I can to help her get out."

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Another Canadian,Anis Farooqi, wasalso left wondering about the condition of his son Adil,who isa student at Ross University on the island.

"We were totally disconnected. No communication of any sort. No snapchats, no whatsapp, no phone calls whatsoever," Farooqi told CBC News.

Farooqi last heard from his son on Thursday but was able to get in touch with theuniversity,whichconfirmed that Adil was safe.

But surviving the hurricane is only the first challenge.Farooqi is also worried aboutreports of looting and shooting in the area.

'Every parent wants to go there'

Nadia Araujoechoes these concerns. She says students,including her sister, weretold by local police to remain inside because people are "carrying machetes with them trying to rob others of their food."

"Every parent at the moment wants to go there and hold their kids hands and bring them home,"Farooqisaid in an interview.

"But I think it's wiser at the moment to leave things to the authorities because we don'twant to make things worse by ending up in a place where we should not be."

Global Affairs Canada says 201 Canadians have requested assistance to departsince Hurricane Maria tore through the region;188 of those are onDominica.

The agency says it isaware of the Canadian students from both Ross University and All Saints University whoneed assistance.

"We have been working with the Ross University, which will evacuate all their students to St. Lucia by boats, starting today and over a few days, conditions permitting. In St. Lucia, they will meet a consular official and board commercial flights back home," Global Affairs spokespersonPhilip Hannan told CBC Toronto in an emailThursday.

He said the quickest way out for students from All Saints University is through the school evacuations but theyare also looking into other options to make sure all Canadians who want to can depart.

Theywill be able to do so as soon as the local infrastructure is safe and local authorities allow it, including boat charters and "use of ourmilitary assets," Global Affairs said.

Canadians who have family and friends in the area requiring assistance are asked to contact Global Affairs Canada immediately.

"It is critical we are made aware of any and all leads," saidHannan.