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| Hurricane Irene stengthens over Turks and Caicos | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Hurricane Irene has strengthened to category two force after churning over the Turks and Caicos islands and is now heading towards the Bahamas. | |
| US meteorologists warn the weather system could strengthen further and hit the US east coast over the weekend. | |
| Irene had top wind speeds of 100mph (155km per hour) and was 400 miles (650km) south-east of Nassau, the US National Hurricane Center said. | |
| It added that Irene could become "a major" hurricane in the next 48 hours. | |
| Officials earlier warned the entire US east coast should be ready for the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. | Officials earlier warned the entire US east coast should be ready for the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. |
| The US officials said the storm could possibly make landfall in Georgia, South Carolina or North Carolina. | The US officials said the storm could possibly make landfall in Georgia, South Carolina or North Carolina. |
| Irene - which was earlier downgraded to a category 1 storm - has already brought heavy downpours as it swept over the Dominican Republic where 1,000 people sought refuge in shelters. | |
| Praying | Praying |
| On Tuesday, Irene was pounding the UK overseas territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands with winds and rain; south-eastern parts of the Bahamas were also feeling the effects. | |
| "I pray God's blessing on us all," Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said, urging residents to take shelter. | "I pray God's blessing on us all," Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said, urging residents to take shelter. |
| It was not immediately known if Irene caused any major damage to the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas. | It was not immediately known if Irene caused any major damage to the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas. |
| Earlier in Puerto Rico, the storm knocked out power to more than half the island and affected the water supplies of more than 100,000 people. | Earlier in Puerto Rico, the storm knocked out power to more than half the island and affected the water supplies of more than 100,000 people. |
| US President Barack Obama declared an emergency - making the island eligible for federal help. | US President Barack Obama declared an emergency - making the island eligible for federal help. |
| Are you in the path of Hurricane Irene? How are you preparing for the storm? You can get in touch using the form below: | Are you in the path of Hurricane Irene? How are you preparing for the storm? You can get in touch using the form below: |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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