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Hurricane Irma live updates: warning issued for Florida as storm pummels Haiti and Bahamas Hurricane Irma live updates: warning issued for Florida as storm pummels Haiti and Bahamas
(35 minutes later)
5.23am BST
05:23
Among the properties forced to evacuate in Florida is President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, the Miami Herald reports:
President Donald Trump’s seaside Mar-a-Lago resort has been ordered to evacuate because of Hurricane Irma, along with the barrier islands and low-lying areas of Palm Beach County.
Trump has returned repeatedly to the private club – which he bought in 1985 – to relax and conduct state business since becoming president.
Mar-a-Lago, which overlooks the ocean on Palm Beach, was built in 1927. Summer is the slow tourist season in South Florida.
Trump also owns three golf courses in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, as well as an 11-bedroom mansion on the French side of the Caribbean island of St Martin.
5.09am BST
05:09
Irma is about to make first contact with the Bahamas – specifically, Little Inagua (fortunately uninhabited) at the southernmost tip of the archipelago:
Little Inagua Island is about be engulfed by #Irma - the first Category 5 landfalling hurricane in the Bahamas since Andrew (1992). pic.twitter.com/YUF5URJw8H
Updated
at 5.10am BST
5.01am BST
05:01
Florida is locking down, Associated Press reports:
Nasa secured Kennedy Space Center and SpaceX launched an unmanned rocket for an experimental flight. Kennedy closed its doors to all nonessential staff and a crew of about 120 people will ride out the storm on site.
Most of the critical buildings at Kennedy are designed to withstand gusts of up to 135mph (220kph). Irma’s wind could exceed that if it reaches Cape Canaveral.
4.54am BST
04:54
Hurricane Jose is making its way towards Caribbean islands already battered by Irma.
The US National Hurricane Center says Jose – a category 3 hurricane – “is expected to be near the northern Leeward Islands on Saturday”.
This covers Barbuda, Antigua and Anguilla, the islands first hit by Irma.
4.47am BST4.47am BST
04:4704:47
The Miami weather service has warned people in south Florida to make urgent plans to seek safety, saying:The Miami weather service has warned people in south Florida to make urgent plans to seek safety, saying:
This is a potentially deadly situation!This is a potentially deadly situation!
Residents and visitors must now implement emergency safety plans.Residents and visitors must now implement emergency safety plans.
Preparations to protect life and property should be completed by Friday night.Preparations to protect life and property should be completed by Friday night.
Take final shelter by early Saturday morning.Take final shelter by early Saturday morning.
4.35am BST4.35am BST
04:3504:35
Latest hurricane warningsLatest hurricane warnings
The US National Hurricane Center says the following locations are now subject to official hurricane warnings:The US National Hurricane Center says the following locations are now subject to official hurricane warnings:
Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita BeachJupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita Beach
Florida KeysFlorida Keys
Lake OkeechobeeLake Okeechobee
Florida BayFlorida Bay
Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le Mole St NicholasHaiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le Mole St Nicholas
South-eastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos IslandsSouth-eastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands
Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, and Villa ClaraCuban provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, and Villa Clara
Central BahamasCentral Bahamas
North-western BahamasNorth-western Bahamas
4.32am BST4.32am BST
04:3204:32
Flags are up at Key West! #Irma #HurricaneWarning pic.twitter.com/u4w7fVeEh2Flags are up at Key West! #Irma #HurricaneWarning pic.twitter.com/u4w7fVeEh2
4.28am BST4.28am BST
04:2804:28
Hurricane Irma breaks yet another record – now the longest lasting Atlantic storm this year:Hurricane Irma breaks yet another record – now the longest lasting Atlantic storm this year:
#Irma is now the longest-lived Atlantic named storm of the 2017 season to date - surpassing Harvey. pic.twitter.com/oAQhJJzalx#Irma is now the longest-lived Atlantic named storm of the 2017 season to date - surpassing Harvey. pic.twitter.com/oAQhJJzalx
4.23am BST4.23am BST
04:2304:23
Irma is currently over the Turks and Caicos Islands, moving westwards towards the south-eastern Bahamas throughout Thursday night.Irma is currently over the Turks and Caicos Islands, moving westwards towards the south-eastern Bahamas throughout Thursday night.
The hurricane will then track between the Bahamas and northern Cuba before hitting southern Florida.The hurricane will then track between the Bahamas and northern Cuba before hitting southern Florida.
4.19am BST4.19am BST
04:1904:19
This latest forecast says “severe hurricane conditions” are now expected to begin to hit the Florida peninsula and Florida Keys late on Saturday.This latest forecast says “severe hurricane conditions” are now expected to begin to hit the Florida peninsula and Florida Keys late on Saturday.
Storm surges and high winds are expected to hit the southern part of the state.Storm surges and high winds are expected to hit the southern part of the state.
UpdatedUpdated
at 4.19am BSTat 4.19am BST
4.09am BST4.09am BST
04:0904:09
The advice from the US National Hurricane Center has moved Florida into the official hurricane warning group for the first time.The advice from the US National Hurricane Center has moved Florida into the official hurricane warning group for the first time.
The areas covered by the warnings cover south Florida and the Florida Keys.The areas covered by the warnings cover south Florida and the Florida Keys.
As the NHC explains:As the NHC explains:
A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A storm surge warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations.A storm surge warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations.
This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.
4.05am BST4.05am BST
04:0504:05
Hurricane and storm surge warnings issued for FloridaHurricane and storm surge warnings issued for Florida
The latest update from the US National Hurricane Center issues upgraded warnings for South Florida and the Florida Keys:The latest update from the US National Hurricane Center issues upgraded warnings for South Florida and the Florida Keys:
A hurricane warning has been issued from Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita Beach, as well as for the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, and Florida Bay.A hurricane warning has been issued from Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita Beach, as well as for the Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, and Florida Bay.
A storm surge warning has been issued from Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita Beach, as well as for the Florida Keys.A storm surge warning has been issued from Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita Beach, as well as for the Florida Keys.
3.54am BST
03:54
Emma Graham-Harrison
“We had cars flying over our head, we had 40ft containers flying left and right,” said Knacyntar Nedd, chairwoman of the Barbuda council. “People were literally tying themselves to roofs with ropes to hold them down.”
“What we experienced is like something you see in a horror movie, not something you expect to actually happen in reality,” Nedd told the local ABS television.
Among the most traumatised survivors were those who tried to ride Irma out at home. “When the first part came, it was like the whole house was ripping apart,” said Jacqueline Bisa, who was in her home with seven relatives.
They took shelter in a closet and the bathroom but the winds were so fierce they had to hang on to the door to keep it closed until they could be evacuated. “It was like it was sucking us up,” she said the next morning.
Several older residents with long experience of the fierce winds churned up by the Atlantic in hurricane season described Irma as unprecedented.
“Last night was the most devastating experience I have had in my life and I am almost 60,” said a man who gave his name as King Goldilocks. “Who hasn’t lost their roof, their house crumbled, like me? I am totally homeless.”
3.44am BST
03:44
As well as winds of 185mph (295kph), Irma also dumped 11 inches (28cm) of rain on parts of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as it passed:
#Irma caused up to 275 mm (11 in) of rain across parts of the #VirginIslands and #PuertoRico, in the last 35 hrs according to radar est. pic.twitter.com/GqCs9xFSb8
3.27am BST
03:27
Cuba is evacuating tourists as Irma approaches, Reuters reports:
Cuba started evacuating some of the 51,000 tourists visiting the island, particularly 36,000 people at resorts on the picturesque northern coast.
That included all Canadian tourists, who Cuban tourism minister Manuel Marrero estimated made up 60% of foreign visitors in the country’s keys.
In Caibarien, a coastal town in the hurricane’s predicted path, residents piled mattresses and a television in a car to get farther inland.
“The roof here is rotten so it will just fly away. Everything will get ruined if we leave it here,” said Miriam Faife. “I’m scared.”
3.07am BST
03:07
Haiti has felt the edges of Hurricane Irma as it careered away from the Dominican Republic towards the Turks and Caicos Islands, and reports so far suggest it has been spared the worst effects of the category 5.
But the north of Haiti, including the port city of Cap-Haïtien, have experienced heavy rainfall and strong winds from Irma’s outer fringes as it passed. There are reports of buildings damaged and trees felled.
Two people were reportedly injured in Cap-Haïtien when a tree crashed into their home.
And a bridge linking the Dominican Republic to Haiti has collapsed.
Hurricane Irma: Bridge connecting Dominican Republic with Haiti collapses during Masacre river increased flow. pic.twitter.com/lBt5tzhWoE
3.01am BST
03:01
Captain Stephen Russell, of the Bahamas national emergency management agency, has told CNN of the approaching hurricane:
We are prepared as best as we can be.
He says some people are in shelters, but most who were evacuated from southern islands have sought refuge with family members and friends.
We are urging all persons throughout the Bahamas – whether they are visitors, residents, in the Bahamas at this time – to find a way to safeguard themselves from the impact of Hurricane Irma …
Find a safe place, a safe shelter.
He says people in low-lying areas should seek to move to higher ground, away from the coast into the interior.
He says a storm surge of up to 25ft (7.6m) could be witnessed.
The destructive force of a 25ft surge: that is our greatest concern. It can really cause catastrophic results
2.54am BST
02:54
Turks and Caicos is currently suffering Irma’s attack.
Virginia Clerveaux, director of the Turks and Caicos department of disaster management and emergencies, told the BBC that people had been asked to find safe shelter:
We are now trying to remind them that this is a category five, and in the history of the Turks and Caicos islands this is the largest storm we have ever been impacted or threatened by.
The highest point on the islands is only 163ft (50m) and the US National Hurricane Center has warned that Irma could bring waves of 15-20 feet (4.5-6 metres) above normal levels.
Updated
at 3.00am BST
2.36am BST
02:36
Irma continues its sobering record-breaking streak: with sustained wind speeds of 185mph (295kph) for 33 hours, it is the longest storm of such intensity since satellite monitoring began in the 1970s.
Wind speeds have now dipped slightly to 175mph over the Turks and Caicos Islands, still a category 5 hurricane.
2.31am BST
02:31
The five living former US presidents – Barack Obama, the two George Bushes, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter – have launched a fundraising drive, the One America appeal.
Originally conceived to help victims of Hurricane Harvey, the appeal will now be expanded to aid Americans affected by Hurricane Irma, the donations website says.
Americans always answer the call. https://t.co/SV1jixOExu pic.twitter.com/ktEvL6s89d
2.16am BST
02:16
Irma remains a category five hurricane with wind speeds of 175mph (280kph) – slightly down from its peak of 185mph – as it batters the Turks and Caicos Islands.
This image shows the eye of Irma as it passes right over the islands:
The Turks and Caicos Islands are currently being hit by some of the strongest winds in Hurricane #Irma. https://t.co/u2rb8Z4m4m pic.twitter.com/QjAaR9h95W
And this shows the intensity as Irma passed across Anguilla, St Martin, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico before heading to Turks and Caicos:
Watch the centre of Super-Category 5 #H_Irma pass over #Anguilla, #StMartin & the #BritishAndUSVirginIslands enroute to the #TurksAndCaicos pic.twitter.com/Cy1CD53x2h
2.05am BST
02:05
Florida governor Rick Scott has ordered all state offices, schools, colleges and universities to close from Friday until at least Monday “to ensure we have every space available for sheltering and staging”.
Scott added:
Every family must be prepared to evacuate.