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| Hurricane Irma wreaks major damage in Caribbean | Hurricane Irma wreaks major damage in Caribbean |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hurricane Irma has destroyed buildings and caused major flooding on several French island territories in the Caribbean. | Hurricane Irma has destroyed buildings and caused major flooding on several French island territories in the Caribbean. |
| The four "most solid" buildings on Saint Martin, shared by France and the Netherlands, were destroyed, French Interior Minister Gérard Collomb said. | The four "most solid" buildings on Saint Martin, shared by France and the Netherlands, were destroyed, French Interior Minister Gérard Collomb said. |
| Communications between Paris and Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy are down. | Communications between Paris and Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy are down. |
| The category five hurricane, the highest possible level, has sustained wind speeds reaching 300km/h (185mph). | The category five hurricane, the highest possible level, has sustained wind speeds reaching 300km/h (185mph). |
| Live updates | Live updates |
| The most powerful Atlantic storm in a decade first hit Antigua and Barbuda, before moving on to Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy. | |
| It is expected to move on towards Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. In the US, Florida's Key West area has ordered a mandatory evacuation. | |
| The French government said earlier it was worried about thousands of people who had refused to seek shelter on the islands. | The French government said earlier it was worried about thousands of people who had refused to seek shelter on the islands. |
| In a statement, the interior minister said France was sending three emergency teams to the islands, two from France and one from Guadeloupe. | In a statement, the interior minister said France was sending three emergency teams to the islands, two from France and one from Guadeloupe. |
| "The winds are going to turn in the other direction and there's a risk of further damage," Mr Collomb said. | "The winds are going to turn in the other direction and there's a risk of further damage," Mr Collomb said. |
| There was no news of possible casualties, he said, adding that "more rustic structures" had "probably been completely or partially destroyed". | There was no news of possible casualties, he said, adding that "more rustic structures" had "probably been completely or partially destroyed". |
| French Overseas Territories Minister Annick Girardin said the hurricane had caused major flooding in low-lying areas, and coastlines were being "battered extremely violently" by the sea. | French Overseas Territories Minister Annick Girardin said the hurricane had caused major flooding in low-lying areas, and coastlines were being "battered extremely violently" by the sea. |
| Are you in the region? Are you a holidaymaker unable to get a flight home or a resident who has been preparing for Hurricane Irma? If it is safe for you to do so, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the region? Are you a holidaymaker unable to get a flight home or a resident who has been preparing for Hurricane Irma? If it is safe for you to do so, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |