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Irma plows northward leaving trail of storm damage in Caribbean Irma heads north and leaves trail of storm damage in Caribbean
(about 1 hour later)
Hurricane Irma, the most powerful storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, has torn into the Caribbean islands of Barbuda, St Martin and St Barts with winds of 185mph, leaving a trail of devastation.Hurricane Irma, the most powerful storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, has torn into the Caribbean islands of Barbuda, St Martin and St Barts with winds of 185mph, leaving a trail of devastation.
There were early reports of “major damage” and flooding in several islands, including St Martin, 230 miles east of Puerto Rico, where officials said government buildings had been destroyed.There were early reports of “major damage” and flooding in several islands, including St Martin, 230 miles east of Puerto Rico, where officials said government buildings had been destroyed.
Roofs were also ripped from homes in St Barts and Barbuda, areas of which were under water from a storm surge of up to 20ft. Power cuts were widespread.Roofs were also ripped from homes in St Barts and Barbuda, areas of which were under water from a storm surge of up to 20ft. Power cuts were widespread.
As the first damage assessments from the northern Leeward Islands began to emerge, residents of the British and US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were bracing for a hit from Irma later on Wednesday.As the first damage assessments from the northern Leeward Islands began to emerge, residents of the British and US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were bracing for a hit from Irma later on Wednesday.
The massive storm, which picked up pace and intensity as it travelled west across the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, was also aiming at a possible hit on Thursday in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba and the southern Bahamas.The massive storm, which picked up pace and intensity as it travelled west across the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, was also aiming at a possible hit on Thursday in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba and the southern Bahamas.
Forecasts from the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami then turn Irma to the north and a possible strike at south Florida, home to 7m people, by Sunday afternoon. Forecasts from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami then turn Irma to the north and a possible strike at south Florida, home to 7m people, by Sunday afternoon.
“Irma is a very powerful, very dangerous storm,” said Michael Brennan, a senior hurricane specialist at the NHC. “It’s a scary sight to see this kind of system affecting people.“Irma is a very powerful, very dangerous storm,” said Michael Brennan, a senior hurricane specialist at the NHC. “It’s a scary sight to see this kind of system affecting people.
“It’s a very dangerous situation for the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and much of the Bahamas, and everyone on the Florida peninsula and in the Florida Keys will want to keep an eye on this.”“It’s a very dangerous situation for the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and much of the Bahamas, and everyone on the Florida peninsula and in the Florida Keys will want to keep an eye on this.”
Irma made first landfall in Barbuda at 1.47am on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), with sustained winds of 185mph, gusting to more than 225mph. The meteorological office of Antigua lost contact with its weather station on the island shortly before the eye of the storm crossed the coastline.Irma made first landfall in Barbuda at 1.47am on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), with sustained winds of 185mph, gusting to more than 225mph. The meteorological office of Antigua lost contact with its weather station on the island shortly before the eye of the storm crossed the coastline.
Gaston Browne, the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, said in a tweet: “The Lord has protected us and we have been spared the worst of Irma.”Gaston Browne, the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, said in a tweet: “The Lord has protected us and we have been spared the worst of Irma.”
Images from St Martin and St Barts appeared to reflect more significant damage. Michel Magras, senator for the French-speaking St Barts, wrote in a text to a media company in France of catastrophic scenes.Images from St Martin and St Barts appeared to reflect more significant damage. Michel Magras, senator for the French-speaking St Barts, wrote in a text to a media company in France of catastrophic scenes.
“I am shocked by the monster that covers us,” he wrote. “The island is devastated. It is apocalyptic, a lot of damage, many roofs destroyed.”“I am shocked by the monster that covers us,” he wrote. “The island is devastated. It is apocalyptic, a lot of damage, many roofs destroyed.”
Gerard Collomb, the French interior minister, observed that the four wrecked government buildings were the strongest on the island, “which means that more rustic structures have probably been completely or partially destroyed.”Gerard Collomb, the French interior minister, observed that the four wrecked government buildings were the strongest on the island, “which means that more rustic structures have probably been completely or partially destroyed.”
In Puerto Rico, almost 200 people took to five shelters opened by authorities in San Juan. Carmen Yulín Cruz, the mayor of the capital, said such voluntary action was a sign of how on edge islanders are about the pending storm, the eye of which is expected to come within 50 or 60 miles. In Puerto Rico, almost 200 people went to five shelters opened by authorities in San Juan. Carmen Yulín Cruz, the mayor of the capital, said such voluntary action was a sign of how on edge islanders are about the pending storm, the eye of which is expected to come within 50 or 60 miles.
“This is the first time since I became mayor almost five years ago that people have come to the shelters without anyone have to ask,” she said. “People are concerned, they are scared. Puerto Ricans cannot fathom what a category 5 hurricane is about – it’s something we’ve never heard of.”“This is the first time since I became mayor almost five years ago that people have come to the shelters without anyone have to ask,” she said. “People are concerned, they are scared. Puerto Ricans cannot fathom what a category 5 hurricane is about – it’s something we’ve never heard of.”
The mayor was speaking to the Guardian on her cell phone from her home in San Juan, which is without any electricity – large parts of the city and surrounding towns have been cut off from power in advance of Irma in an attempt to protect the island’s grid.The mayor was speaking to the Guardian on her cell phone from her home in San Juan, which is without any electricity – large parts of the city and surrounding towns have been cut off from power in advance of Irma in an attempt to protect the island’s grid.
“Power infrastructure is very, very fragile and we are expecting to be without power for the next four to six months,” she said.“Power infrastructure is very, very fragile and we are expecting to be without power for the next four to six months,” she said.
From Bayamón, a municipality outside San Juan, Juan Collazo, a student at the University of Puerto Rico, said supermarkets and building merchants were all closed. Water was in short supply days ago and most houses were still without storm protection because supplies of wood, rope and other materials for boarding up windows were impossible to acquire.From Bayamón, a municipality outside San Juan, Juan Collazo, a student at the University of Puerto Rico, said supermarkets and building merchants were all closed. Water was in short supply days ago and most houses were still without storm protection because supplies of wood, rope and other materials for boarding up windows were impossible to acquire.
In the US, Donald Trump approved a request from the Florida governor Rick Scott to declare a state of emergency.In the US, Donald Trump approved a request from the Florida governor Rick Scott to declare a state of emergency.
“Watching hurricane closely,” the president said in a tweet that also referred to Hurricane Harvey’s devastating strike last month. “My team, which has done, and is doing, such a good job in Texas, is already in Florida. No rest for the weary!”“Watching hurricane closely,” the president said in a tweet that also referred to Hurricane Harvey’s devastating strike last month. “My team, which has done, and is doing, such a good job in Texas, is already in Florida. No rest for the weary!”
A mandatory evacuation of the Florida Keys, the 100-mile chain of low-lying islands south of the US mainland, was under way on Wednesday, as Floridians raced to complete preparations ahead of the expected arrival of tropical storm force winds on Friday.A mandatory evacuation of the Florida Keys, the 100-mile chain of low-lying islands south of the US mainland, was under way on Wednesday, as Floridians raced to complete preparations ahead of the expected arrival of tropical storm force winds on Friday.
At a morning briefing, Scott said he had ordered 7,000 members of the Florida national guard to report for duty, and had lifted tolls on all state highways in an attempt to ease evacuations.At a morning briefing, Scott said he had ordered 7,000 members of the Florida national guard to report for duty, and had lifted tolls on all state highways in an attempt to ease evacuations.
“Get prepared, know your evacuation route,” Scott said. “This storm has the potential to devastate our state and we need to take it very seriously.”“Get prepared, know your evacuation route,” Scott said. “This storm has the potential to devastate our state and we need to take it very seriously.”
The NHC continued to warn of the dangers from the “significant” storm surge on coastlines along Irma’s expected path. In Puerto Rico, a team of scientists from the US Geological Survey installed nine storm-tide sensors to measure the height and intensity of the hurricane’s surge.The NHC continued to warn of the dangers from the “significant” storm surge on coastlines along Irma’s expected path. In Puerto Rico, a team of scientists from the US Geological Survey installed nine storm-tide sensors to measure the height and intensity of the hurricane’s surge.
The agency also plans to instal sensors in the Florida Keys and along the state’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts as the storm’s track becomes clearer.The agency also plans to instal sensors in the Florida Keys and along the state’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts as the storm’s track becomes clearer.
Storm surges “can have devastating coastal impacts,” the USGS said in a statement on Facebook. “The researchers will … assess the likelihood of beach erosion, overwash or inundation at local level and along the entire coastal zone in the hurricane’s path.”Storm surges “can have devastating coastal impacts,” the USGS said in a statement on Facebook. “The researchers will … assess the likelihood of beach erosion, overwash or inundation at local level and along the entire coastal zone in the hurricane’s path.”