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| Hurricane Irma: Cuba hit with strong winds and heavy rain | Hurricane Irma: Cuba hit with strong winds and heavy rain |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hurricane Irma is lashing Cuba with strong winds and heavy rain after devastating several Caribbean islands. | Hurricane Irma is lashing Cuba with strong winds and heavy rain after devastating several Caribbean islands. |
| The hurricane made landfall on the Camaguey Archipelago, in Cuba's north-east, as a category five storm. | The hurricane made landfall on the Camaguey Archipelago, in Cuba's north-east, as a category five storm. |
| But the Bahamas have largely been spared after Irma changed track. | But the Bahamas have largely been spared after Irma changed track. |
| In Florida, 5.6 million people, or 25% of the US state's population, have been told to leave as the storm approaches. At least 20 people are known to have died so far across the Caribbean. | In Florida, 5.6 million people, or 25% of the US state's population, have been told to leave as the storm approaches. At least 20 people are known to have died so far across the Caribbean. |
| Irma hit the Camaguey Archipelago late on Friday, threatening nearby coastal towns and villages. | Irma hit the Camaguey Archipelago late on Friday, threatening nearby coastal towns and villages. |
| It was the first category five hurricane to hit Cuba in decades, although it had weakened to category four by Saturday morning. | It was the first category five hurricane to hit Cuba in decades, although it had weakened to category four by Saturday morning. |
| At 09:00 GMT, Irma had maximum sustained winds of 249km/h (155mph), the National Hurricane Center in the US said. | At 09:00 GMT, Irma had maximum sustained winds of 249km/h (155mph), the National Hurricane Center in the US said. |
| A hurricane warning is currently in effect in the provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara and Matanzas, while floods have been reported in the north-east. | A hurricane warning is currently in effect in the provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara and Matanzas, while floods have been reported in the north-east. |
| Some communities have lost power, and communication is becoming increasingly difficult with towns in more remote areas, the BBC's Will Grant in Havana reports. | Some communities have lost power, and communication is becoming increasingly difficult with towns in more remote areas, the BBC's Will Grant in Havana reports. |
| Cuban officials reported "significant damage", without giving further details, but said there were no confirmed casualties yet, AFP news agency reported. | Cuban officials reported "significant damage", without giving further details, but said there were no confirmed casualties yet, AFP news agency reported. |
| Residents are hoping the storm will just glance the island before heading across the Florida Straits. | |
| Earlier, people tried to secure their roofs and move belongings from low-lying coastal areas to higher ground. | Earlier, people tried to secure their roofs and move belongings from low-lying coastal areas to higher ground. |
| "There are really strong gusts of wind. It is pouring off and on, and the lights are out," Anaida Gonzalez, a retired nurse in the Camaguey province, told Reuters. | "There are really strong gusts of wind. It is pouring off and on, and the lights are out," Anaida Gonzalez, a retired nurse in the Camaguey province, told Reuters. |
| About 50,000 tourists are fleeing or have fled Cuba, with resorts on the north coast now empty, the news agency reports. | About 50,000 tourists are fleeing or have fled Cuba, with resorts on the north coast now empty, the news agency reports. |
| Irma is expected to hit Florida on Sunday. | Irma is expected to hit Florida on Sunday. |
| Brock Long, the head of the US federal emergency agency, warned that Irma would "devastate" either Florida or neighbouring states. | Brock Long, the head of the US federal emergency agency, warned that Irma would "devastate" either Florida or neighbouring states. |
| He said that parts of Florida would be without power for days. | He said that parts of Florida would be without power for days. |
| "The entire south-eastern United States better wake up and pay attention," he added. | "The entire south-eastern United States better wake up and pay attention," he added. |
| Florida Governor Rick Scott said all Floridians should be prepared for possible evacuation, and issued a stark warning to those in threatened areas. | Florida Governor Rick Scott said all Floridians should be prepared for possible evacuation, and issued a stark warning to those in threatened areas. |
| "We are running out of time. If you are in an evacuation zone, you need to go now," he told reporters. | "We are running out of time. If you are in an evacuation zone, you need to go now," he told reporters. |
| "Remember, we can rebuild your home, we can't rebuild your life." | "Remember, we can rebuild your home, we can't rebuild your life." |
| The death toll continued to rise on Friday in the Caribbean. | The death toll continued to rise on Friday in the Caribbean. |
| France's Interior Minister Gérard Collomb said nine people were dead and seven missing in the French territory on St Martin, an island shared with the Netherlands, and St Barthélemy. | France's Interior Minister Gérard Collomb said nine people were dead and seven missing in the French territory on St Martin, an island shared with the Netherlands, and St Barthélemy. |
| Another death - the second - has been confirmed in the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten. | Another death - the second - has been confirmed in the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten. |
| French officials said six out of 10 homes on Saint-Martin were so badly damaged that they were uninhabitable. | French officials said six out of 10 homes on Saint-Martin were so badly damaged that they were uninhabitable. |
| US President Donald Trump spoke on Friday to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to extend his condolences and offer support, the White House said. | US President Donald Trump spoke on Friday to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to extend his condolences and offer support, the White House said. |
| French, British and Dutch military authorities have deployed aid - including warships and planes equipped with food, water and troops - to their territories. | French, British and Dutch military authorities have deployed aid - including warships and planes equipped with food, water and troops - to their territories. |
| Reporting from another badly damaged island, Barbuda, the BBC's Laura Bicker says the destruction there is worse than feared. | Reporting from another badly damaged island, Barbuda, the BBC's Laura Bicker says the destruction there is worse than feared. |
| Which other areas have already been hit? | Which other areas have already been hit? |
| Are there more hurricanes to come? | Are there more hurricanes to come? |
| Another storm, Jose, further out in the Atlantic behind Irma, is now a category four hurricane, with winds of up to 240km/h (150mph). | Another storm, Jose, further out in the Atlantic behind Irma, is now a category four hurricane, with winds of up to 240km/h (150mph). |
| It is following a similar path to Irma and already hampering relief efforts in some of the worst affected areas. | It is following a similar path to Irma and already hampering relief efforts in some of the worst affected areas. |
| Residents of Barbuda, where 95% of buildings have been destroyed by Irma, have now left the island as Jose approaches. | Residents of Barbuda, where 95% of buildings have been destroyed by Irma, have now left the island as Jose approaches. |
| Hurricane Katia, in the Gulf of Mexico, a category one storm with winds of up to 75mph, made landfall on the Mexican Gulf coast in the state of Veracruz late on Friday. | Hurricane Katia, in the Gulf of Mexico, a category one storm with winds of up to 75mph, made landfall on the Mexican Gulf coast in the state of Veracruz late on Friday. |
| The storm is expected to weaken rapidly in the coming hours. | The storm is expected to weaken rapidly in the coming hours. |
| 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: |
| Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |