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Irma's destruction: island by island Irma's destruction: island by island
(35 minutes later)
Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda
Barbuda, the first island to feel the force of Hurricane Irma was devastated by its high winds, with Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, saying 90% of buildings had been destroyed and 50% of the population of around 1,000 people left homeless.Barbuda, the first island to feel the force of Hurricane Irma was devastated by its high winds, with Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, saying 90% of buildings had been destroyed and 50% of the population of around 1,000 people left homeless.
One person – a two-year-old child – is confirmed to have died in the storm. Michael Joseph, president of the Red Cross in Antigua and Barbuda said:One person – a two-year-old child – is confirmed to have died in the storm. Michael Joseph, president of the Red Cross in Antigua and Barbuda said:
The devastation is not like we’ve ever seen before – we’re talking about the whole country … of Barbuda being significantly destroyed.The devastation is not like we’ve ever seen before – we’re talking about the whole country … of Barbuda being significantly destroyed.
Critical facilities including roads and communications systems were ravaged, with the recovery effort set to take months or years. Some residents are expected to be evacuated to the larger sister island of Antigua – where damage was less severe – as part of relief efforts and ahead of the prospective arrival of Hurricane Jose this weekend.Critical facilities including roads and communications systems were ravaged, with the recovery effort set to take months or years. Some residents are expected to be evacuated to the larger sister island of Antigua – where damage was less severe – as part of relief efforts and ahead of the prospective arrival of Hurricane Jose this weekend.
Browne said he would order the evacuation of Barbuda if forecasters predict that Jose will hit the island in the coming days.Browne said he would order the evacuation of Barbuda if forecasters predict that Jose will hit the island in the coming days.
AnguillaAnguilla
One person died in the British overseas territory, said Ronald Jackson, executive director of the Caribbean disaster and emergency management agency, who added that “police stations, hospitals, school facilities, three or four emergency shelters, a home for the infirm and the aged, as well as the fire station”, along with many homes, had been damaged or destroyed.One person died in the British overseas territory, said Ronald Jackson, executive director of the Caribbean disaster and emergency management agency, who added that “police stations, hospitals, school facilities, three or four emergency shelters, a home for the infirm and the aged, as well as the fire station”, along with many homes, had been damaged or destroyed.
UK foreign office minister Alan Duncan said: “The initial assessment is that the damage has been severe and in places critical.”UK foreign office minister Alan Duncan said: “The initial assessment is that the damage has been severe and in places critical.”
The tourist board said major resorts on the island had withstood the onslaught. The airport and two ports remain closed.The tourist board said major resorts on the island had withstood the onslaught. The airport and two ports remain closed.
The British government has been accused of a failure to respond speedily to the devastation. On Thursday, it announced an extra £32m in aid and will send hundreds of marines and royal engineers, as well as HMS Ocean, currently deployed in the Mediterranean, which will take 10 to 14 days to reach the area.The British government has been accused of a failure to respond speedily to the devastation. On Thursday, it announced an extra £32m in aid and will send hundreds of marines and royal engineers, as well as HMS Ocean, currently deployed in the Mediterranean, which will take 10 to 14 days to reach the area.
St Kitts & NevisSt Kitts & Nevis
Prime minister Timothy Harris said St Kitts was “spared the full brunt” of Irma, but warned of “significant damage” to property and infrastructure, as well as power failures. The airport reopened on Thursday. A hurricane warning and flash-flooding watch have been discontinued, and residents and visitors given the all-clear.Prime minister Timothy Harris said St Kitts was “spared the full brunt” of Irma, but warned of “significant damage” to property and infrastructure, as well as power failures. The airport reopened on Thursday. A hurricane warning and flash-flooding watch have been discontinued, and residents and visitors given the all-clear.
St Martin and St BartsSt Martin and St Barts
The French part of the island (the southern side, St Maarten, is administered by the Netherlands) was “95% destroyed”, according to Daniel Gibb, a local official, who called it “an enormous catastrophe”:The French part of the island (the southern side, St Maarten, is administered by the Netherlands) was “95% destroyed”, according to Daniel Gibb, a local official, who called it “an enormous catastrophe”:
I have sick people to evacuate, I have a population to evacuate because I don’t know where I can shelter them.I have sick people to evacuate, I have a population to evacuate because I don’t know where I can shelter them.
Four people were killed in St Martin, according to French prime minister Édouard Philippe, who said 50 were injured across the island and another French overseas collectivity, Saint Barthélemy (St Barts). Power was cut across the island and many roads are impassable.Four people were killed in St Martin, according to French prime minister Édouard Philippe, who said 50 were injured across the island and another French overseas collectivity, Saint Barthélemy (St Barts). Power was cut across the island and many roads are impassable.
The number of victims on the Dutch half of the island, St Maarten, is unknown. Netherlands prime minister Mark Rutte says there has been “enormous material damage” to St Maarten, and has sent marines and two aid flights.The number of victims on the Dutch half of the island, St Maarten, is unknown. Netherlands prime minister Mark Rutte says there has been “enormous material damage” to St Maarten, and has sent marines and two aid flights.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, earlier said he expected Irma-related damage to St Martin and St Barts would be “considerable”. France’s overseas minister, Annick Girardin, travelled to the Caribbean with emergency teams and supplies.The French president, Emmanuel Macron, earlier said he expected Irma-related damage to St Martin and St Barts would be “considerable”. France’s overseas minister, Annick Girardin, travelled to the Caribbean with emergency teams and supplies.
Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands
Significant damage has been reported from the British Virgin Islands, where critical facilities, as well as homes, businesses and supermarkets, have been devastated.Significant damage has been reported from the British Virgin Islands, where critical facilities, as well as homes, businesses and supermarkets, have been devastated.
UK foreign minister Alan Duncan said: “The British Virgin Islands were also not spared the hurricane’s full force. Our initial assessment is of severe damage and we expect that the islands will need extensive humanitarian assistance which we will of course provide.”UK foreign minister Alan Duncan said: “The British Virgin Islands were also not spared the hurricane’s full force. Our initial assessment is of severe damage and we expect that the islands will need extensive humanitarian assistance which we will of course provide.”
Sam Branson, son of Virgin businessman Richard Branson – who saw out the storm in a bunker on his private island of Necker – said “a lot of buildings” had been destroyed.Sam Branson, son of Virgin businessman Richard Branson – who saw out the storm in a bunker on his private island of Necker – said “a lot of buildings” had been destroyed.
Three people are confirmed to have died in the St Thomas and St John district of the the US Virgin Islands. US president Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency and a major disaster. There were reports of extensive damage to buildings, and of land entirely stripped of vegetation. Four people are confirmed to have died in the US Virgin Islands, with a government spokesman predicting the toll would rise. US president Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency and a major disaster. There were reports of extensive damage to buildings, and of land entirely stripped of vegetation.
Many roads are inaccessible in the USVI, and schools are reported to be destroyed.Many roads are inaccessible in the USVI, and schools are reported to be destroyed.
Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Lashing winds and rains have left more than a million people without power and tens of thousands without water. Images from the island showed flash flooding, and hospitals were forced to rely on generators.Lashing winds and rains have left more than a million people without power and tens of thousands without water. Images from the island showed flash flooding, and hospitals were forced to rely on generators.
Three people – two women and a man – have been confirmed dead, and rescuers are searching for the missing. Waves of up to 30 feet (9 metres) were reported. Several thousand people remain in emergency shelters.Three people – two women and a man – have been confirmed dead, and rescuers are searching for the missing. Waves of up to 30 feet (9 metres) were reported. Several thousand people remain in emergency shelters.
Governor Ricardo Rosselló has also declared a disaster in the tiny islands of Culebra and Vieques, to Puerto Rico’s east, which were hard-hit by the storm. So far there has been little information from the islands.Governor Ricardo Rosselló has also declared a disaster in the tiny islands of Culebra and Vieques, to Puerto Rico’s east, which were hard-hit by the storm. So far there has been little information from the islands.
Irma is the worst hurricane to hit the island since 1928, when Hurricane San Felipe killed more than 2,700 people across Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe and Florida.Irma is the worst hurricane to hit the island since 1928, when Hurricane San Felipe killed more than 2,700 people across Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe and Florida.
Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
Pictures from the Dominican Republic – where Irma passed to the north – show widespread damage: flattened buildings, downed trees and power lines. The coastal resorts of Cabarete and Sosua were reported to have seen storm surges, and more than 5,000 people were evacuated across the country.Pictures from the Dominican Republic – where Irma passed to the north – show widespread damage: flattened buildings, downed trees and power lines. The coastal resorts of Cabarete and Sosua were reported to have seen storm surges, and more than 5,000 people were evacuated across the country.
On Thursday, Juan Manuel Mendez, director of the centre of emergency operations, said people there should “not let down their guard … the worst isn’t over”.On Thursday, Juan Manuel Mendez, director of the centre of emergency operations, said people there should “not let down their guard … the worst isn’t over”.
HaitiHaiti
Irma continues its path across the north of Hispaniola – the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Heavy rains pummelled the north coast and several areas have lost power. Irma continues its path across the north of Hispaniola – the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Heavy rains thrashed the north coast and several areas have lost power.
Officials had admitted they were not prepared for the category five onslaught. No mandatory evacuation orders were in place ahead of Irma’s approach.Officials had admitted they were not prepared for the category five onslaught. No mandatory evacuation orders were in place ahead of Irma’s approach.
Turks and Caicos
Irma was “pummelling” the British overseas territory on Thursday evening, the US National Hurricane Center said, with winds of 175mph (280kmh).
Governor John Freeman said some people had been moved to shelters ahead of the hurricane’s arrival, but warned others to:
Hunker down, stay where you are … Nobody can get to you either – people are, for a little while, on their own.
Electricity supplies had failed on Grand Turk, which meant water production was also out, Freeman said.
Where next?Where next?
The eye of the storm is moving on to Turks and Caicos, where it is expected to hit on Thursday night, and the southern Bahamas. The eye of the storm is moving on to the southern Bahamas.
The US National Hurricane Center warned that storm surges could lift water levels in the Turks and Caicos Islands and south-eastern and central Bahamas by 15-20ft (4.5-6m) above normal levels. The US National Hurricane Center warned that storm surges could lift water levels in south-eastern and central Bahamas by 15-20ft (4.5-6m) above normal levels.
Bahamas prime minister Hubert Minnis said his government had evacuated people from six islands in the south to the capital, Nassau, in the largest storm evacuation in the country’s history. Airports have been closed.Bahamas prime minister Hubert Minnis said his government had evacuated people from six islands in the south to the capital, Nassau, in the largest storm evacuation in the country’s history. Airports have been closed.
A hurricane watch remains in place in Cuba.A hurricane watch remains in place in Cuba.
By Friday, Irma could hit Florida, where mandatory evacuation orders have already been issued for residents in Miami-Dade and Miami Beach, who must leave their homes on Thursday. All hospitals in the Florida Keys archipelago will close at 7am Friday, and coast guard and rescue services have left.By Friday, Irma could hit Florida, where mandatory evacuation orders have already been issued for residents in Miami-Dade and Miami Beach, who must leave their homes on Thursday. All hospitals in the Florida Keys archipelago will close at 7am Friday, and coast guard and rescue services have left.