This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/sep/07/hurricane-irma-live-latest-updates-caribbean
The article has changed 73 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
Next version
| Version 57 | Version 58 |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Irma: Florida braces for epic storm as Caribbean death toll hits 23 – latest updates | Hurricane Irma: Florida braces for epic storm as Caribbean death toll hits 23 – latest updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.36am BST | |
| 00:36 | |
| Currently in Irma’s sights, after it barrelled over the Turks and Caicos Islands, are the Bahamas and Cuba. | |
| Through Friday night and into Saturday, the hurricane is forecast to move over Cuba’s north coast and the central Bahamas, with wind speeds of up to 155mph (250kph). | |
| Irma is currently a category 4 hurricane, a dip on its peak intensity, but still with potential for widespread devastation. | |
| 630pm - #GOES16 imagery showing the eye of Hurricane #Irma continuing to head toward the Bahamas and Cuba this evening. pic.twitter.com/NMArrmqagc | |
| 12.28am BST | |
| 00:28 | |
| Some 5.6 million people have been ordered to evacuate Florida – reportedly the largest evacuation in US history. | |
| Governor Rick Scott told people who had not already left to get out now: | |
| If you are planning to leave and do not leave tonight, you will have to ride out this extremely dangerous storm at your own risk. | |
| Scott said his biggest concern, as Irma threatens lashing winds and rains, is the predicted storm surge. | |
| This animation demonstrates how swiftly such a surge can engulf homes: | |
| Storm surge flooding can happen fast -- very fast. This @ncargis animation shows just how much flooding can occur in only 12 minutes. #Irma pic.twitter.com/IJRFNdvRKj | |
| 12.18am BST | |
| 00:18 | |
| Barbuda victim named as Carl Junior Francis | |
| The first victim of Irma was two-year-old Carl Junior Francis, Associated Press reports: | |
| On Barbuda, a coral island rising a mere 125ft (38m) above sea level, authorities ordered an evacuation of all 1,400 people to neighbouring Antigua, where Stevet Jeremiah was reunited with one son and made plans to bury another. | |
| Jeremiah, who sells lobster and crab to tourists, was huddled in her wooden home on Barbuda early Wednesday with her partner and their two- and four-year-old boys as Irma ripped open their metal roof and sent the ocean surging into the house. | |
| Her younger son, Carl Junior Francis, was swept away. Neighbours found his body after sunrise. | |
| “Two years old. He just turned two, the 17th, last month. Just turned two,” she repeated. | |
| Her first task, she said, would be to organise his funeral. “That’s all I can do. There is nothing else I can do.” | |
| 12.10am BST | |
| 00:10 | |
| Virgin businessman Richard Branson – who saw out the storm in a concrete bunker on his private island, Necker – has posted from Virgin Gorda, also in the British Virgin Islands, about recovery efforts. | |
| Branson writes: | |
| Communications in and out of the BVI are still mostly down, but we have a satellite phone working to share updates … There is a huge amount of damage to buildings, but fortunately everyone we have seen so far has been OK. | |
| The boats are piled up like matchsticks in the harbour. Huge cargo ships were thrown out of the water and into rocks. Resorts have been decimated. | |
| The houses have their roofs blown off; even some churches where people sheltered have lost roofs. But the whole British Virgin Islands community is rallying round. | |
| As with Necker & Moskito, buildings destroyed but people thankfully all seem ok so far https://t.co/U0m3Kf1APM #Irma pic.twitter.com/8dWfUIbOuP | |
| 11.57pm BST | 11.57pm BST |
| 23:57 | 23:57 |
| The National Hurricane Center is warning people in Florida not to hope for a last-minute swerve from the approaching Irma. | The National Hurricane Center is warning people in Florida not to hope for a last-minute swerve from the approaching Irma. |
| Dennis Feltgen, an NHC meteorologist and spokesman, said: | Dennis Feltgen, an NHC meteorologist and spokesman, said: |
| This is a storm that will kill you if you don’t get out of the way. | This is a storm that will kill you if you don’t get out of the way. |
| Irma’s winds will rake the whole Florida peninsula, Feltgen cautioned: | Irma’s winds will rake the whole Florida peninsula, Feltgen cautioned: |
| Everybody’s going to feel this one. | Everybody’s going to feel this one. |
| 11.46pm BST | 11.46pm BST |
| 23:46 | 23:46 |
| Hurricane Jose due to hit Caribbean overnight | Hurricane Jose due to hit Caribbean overnight |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| This is Claire Phipps picking up our live coverage. | This is Claire Phipps picking up our live coverage. |
| The Antigua and Barbuda Met Office has warned that Jose – now a category four hurricane, with wind speeds of 150mph (240kph) – could make its presence felt in the northern Leeward Islands as early as midnight. | The Antigua and Barbuda Met Office has warned that Jose – now a category four hurricane, with wind speeds of 150mph (240kph) – could make its presence felt in the northern Leeward Islands as early as midnight. |
| It’s currently approaching 7pm local time. | It’s currently approaching 7pm local time. |
| Residents of Barbuda – the tiny island left desolate by Irma just days ago – are being evacuated to the larger sister island of Antigua, which suffered less damage. | Residents of Barbuda – the tiny island left desolate by Irma just days ago – are being evacuated to the larger sister island of Antigua, which suffered less damage. |
| By 8am Saturday, Antigua News Room reports, “we could be looking at Irma-type winds”. Flooding is also expected. | By 8am Saturday, Antigua News Room reports, “we could be looking at Irma-type winds”. Flooding is also expected. |
| Shelters have opened in Antigua for those seeking refuge – again. | Shelters have opened in Antigua for those seeking refuge – again. |
| 11.31pm BST | 11.31pm BST |
| 23:31 | 23:31 |
| What we know so far | What we know so far |
| Alan Yuhas | Alan Yuhas |
| Hurricane Irma is barrelling toward the southern Bahamas on a course toward south Florida, with extremely dangerous winds of 150mph (250kph). The hurricane’s width is larger than the state of Florida, and governors as far north as Virginia have declared emergencies. | Hurricane Irma is barrelling toward the southern Bahamas on a course toward south Florida, with extremely dangerous winds of 150mph (250kph). The hurricane’s width is larger than the state of Florida, and governors as far north as Virginia have declared emergencies. |
| At least 23 people were confirmed killed around the Caribbean so far. The dead include 11 on French St Martin and St Barts, four in the US Virgin Islands, three on Puerto Rico, two on Dutch St Maarten, one in Barbuda, and one in Anguilla. A teenage surfer died off Barbados in waves churned up by Irma, and four deaths were reported on the British Virgin Islands that have yet to be corroborated. | At least 23 people were confirmed killed around the Caribbean so far. The dead include 11 on French St Martin and St Barts, four in the US Virgin Islands, three on Puerto Rico, two on Dutch St Maarten, one in Barbuda, and one in Anguilla. A teenage surfer died off Barbados in waves churned up by Irma, and four deaths were reported on the British Virgin Islands that have yet to be corroborated. |
| In Florida, a 57-year-old man died from a fall while affixing storm shutters to a house. | In Florida, a 57-year-old man died from a fall while affixing storm shutters to a house. |
| Florida braced for what may be its worst storm in living memory, with a state-wide hurricane warning and evacuations that left Miami and its environs eerily desolate. “This is a catastrophic storm our state has never seen,” said governor Rick Scott. “We can rebuild your home, we cannot rebuild your life.” | Florida braced for what may be its worst storm in living memory, with a state-wide hurricane warning and evacuations that left Miami and its environs eerily desolate. “This is a catastrophic storm our state has never seen,” said governor Rick Scott. “We can rebuild your home, we cannot rebuild your life.” |
| Officials feared storm surges of three to 10ft (0.9-3 metres) and ordered more than a million people to evacuate from coastal areas of Florida and Georgia. Travellers clogged highways northward and the governor suspended tolls and struggled to get fuel to gas stations running out of supplies. The mayor of Miami-Dade, Carlos Gimenez, said the mandatory evacuation of some 650,000 people is the largest in the county’s history. | Officials feared storm surges of three to 10ft (0.9-3 metres) and ordered more than a million people to evacuate from coastal areas of Florida and Georgia. Travellers clogged highways northward and the governor suspended tolls and struggled to get fuel to gas stations running out of supplies. The mayor of Miami-Dade, Carlos Gimenez, said the mandatory evacuation of some 650,000 people is the largest in the county’s history. |
| Shelters opened all around Florida, and officials pleaded that residents in inland areas should plan to have food and water for three days minimum. The governor closed schools and universities around the state to allow for more room. “After the storm passes, we’ll be here to lift everyone up,” Scott said. “We will get through this together.” | Shelters opened all around Florida, and officials pleaded that residents in inland areas should plan to have food and water for three days minimum. The governor closed schools and universities around the state to allow for more room. “After the storm passes, we’ll be here to lift everyone up,” Scott said. “We will get through this together.” |
| The storm is expected to land somewhere on the peninsula late Saturday or on Sunday. Brock Long, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that Irma could be the most severe hurricane to ever hit the US. “It’s not a question of if Florida’s going to be impacted. It’s a question of how bad Florida’s going to be impacted.” | The storm is expected to land somewhere on the peninsula late Saturday or on Sunday. Brock Long, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that Irma could be the most severe hurricane to ever hit the US. “It’s not a question of if Florida’s going to be impacted. It’s a question of how bad Florida’s going to be impacted.” |
| Cuba evacuated people from coastal resorts and warned residents to move inland. The British territories of Turks and Caicos emerged from the storm’s winds battered and after massive storm surges. | Cuba evacuated people from coastal resorts and warned residents to move inland. The British territories of Turks and Caicos emerged from the storm’s winds battered and after massive storm surges. |
| Hurricane Jose grew to a category four storm east of the Caribbean, with a path toward some of the same islands that have just emerged from Irma’s winds. On the tiny island of Barbuda, where an estimated 90% of buildings were destroyed, authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation to the larger island of Antigua. | Hurricane Jose grew to a category four storm east of the Caribbean, with a path toward some of the same islands that have just emerged from Irma’s winds. On the tiny island of Barbuda, where an estimated 90% of buildings were destroyed, authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation to the larger island of Antigua. |
| American, British, French and Dutch relief forces and military personnel moved to Caribbean islands hit by the storm. The US is deploying an aircraft carrier for Irma relief, and federal officials anticipate a recovery costing tens of billions. | American, British, French and Dutch relief forces and military personnel moved to Caribbean islands hit by the storm. The US is deploying an aircraft carrier for Irma relief, and federal officials anticipate a recovery costing tens of billions. |
| 10.58pm BST | 10.58pm BST |
| 22:58 | 22:58 |
| As state and federal agencies make their final pleas to Floridians, the National Hurricane Center scientist Taylor Trogdon stresses the sheer scale of hurricane Irma. | As state and federal agencies make their final pleas to Floridians, the National Hurricane Center scientist Taylor Trogdon stresses the sheer scale of hurricane Irma. |
| The storm, currently cast its eye across the waters north of Cuba, will make landfall on the peninsula sometime late Saturday or early Sunday. | The storm, currently cast its eye across the waters north of Cuba, will make landfall on the peninsula sometime late Saturday or early Sunday. |
| Everyone across south Florida who prepared their home, evacuated, or both, be confident in that decision. Impacts will be wide-ranging. pic.twitter.com/0zmaujGgGe | Everyone across south Florida who prepared their home, evacuated, or both, be confident in that decision. Impacts will be wide-ranging. pic.twitter.com/0zmaujGgGe |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.41pm BST | at 11.41pm BST |
| 10.38pm BST | 10.38pm BST |
| 22:38 | 22:38 |
| Miami has become eerily desolate in anticipation of hurricane Irma, with boarded up buildings, empty streets, and plastic wrap and police cordons around gas stations. | Miami has become eerily desolate in anticipation of hurricane Irma, with boarded up buildings, empty streets, and plastic wrap and police cordons around gas stations. |
| Miami Int’l Airport essentially a ghost town after handling more passengers today than any day in the last 10 years, spox tells @ABC. #Irma pic.twitter.com/tKGJN2rczR | Miami Int’l Airport essentially a ghost town after handling more passengers today than any day in the last 10 years, spox tells @ABC. #Irma pic.twitter.com/tKGJN2rczR |
| 10.26pm BST | 10.26pm BST |
| 22:26 | 22:26 |
| The 5pm forecast from the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service show hurricane Irma on the verge of returning to a category five storm, energized by the warm waters off Cuba and Florida. | The 5pm forecast from the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service show hurricane Irma on the verge of returning to a category five storm, energized by the warm waters off Cuba and Florida. |
| The projection looks especially dire for the Florida Keys and south-west Florida. | The projection looks especially dire for the Florida Keys and south-west Florida. |
| 5pm track from from NHC paints a grim picture for the Keys and southwest Florida. NHC brings #Irma to Cat 5 160 mph before hitting the Keys. pic.twitter.com/aZAu24xQCR | 5pm track from from NHC paints a grim picture for the Keys and southwest Florida. NHC brings #Irma to Cat 5 160 mph before hitting the Keys. pic.twitter.com/aZAu24xQCR |
| ***THIS IS AS REAL AS IT GETS******NOWHERE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS WILL BE SAFE******YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO EVACUATE***Please RT. #Irma pic.twitter.com/VWLMEDWoUs | ***THIS IS AS REAL AS IT GETS******NOWHERE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS WILL BE SAFE******YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO EVACUATE***Please RT. #Irma pic.twitter.com/VWLMEDWoUs |