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| Hurricane Irene hammers Bahamas on way to US | Hurricane Irene hammers Bahamas on way to US |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Hurricane Irene has been hammering the Bahamas as it moves towards the US on a projected track to hug the east coast. | Hurricane Irene has been hammering the Bahamas as it moves towards the US on a projected track to hug the east coast. |
| The first hurricane of the Atlantic season has grown into a category three storm, with winds of 120 mph (190km/h), and is expected to become stronger. | The first hurricane of the Atlantic season has grown into a category three storm, with winds of 120 mph (190km/h), and is expected to become stronger. |
| The Outer Banks islands off North Carolina are being evacuated and people are stocking up on supplies in coastal areas of the US state. | The Outer Banks islands off North Carolina are being evacuated and people are stocking up on supplies in coastal areas of the US state. |
| The huge storm has brought flooding and power cuts across the Caribbean. | The huge storm has brought flooding and power cuts across the Caribbean. |
| On Mayaguana Island, part of the Bahamas, Irene has damaged roofs and blown down trees and lampposts, leaving the island without electricity, Associated Press quoted Police Inspector Vernon Rahming as saying. | On Mayaguana Island, part of the Bahamas, Irene has damaged roofs and blown down trees and lampposts, leaving the island without electricity, Associated Press quoted Police Inspector Vernon Rahming as saying. |
| Capt Stephen Russell, the head of the National Emergency Management Agency in the Bahamas, told AP news agency that two southern islands have also been hard hit. | |
| Two settlements had been devastated on Acklins and Crooked islands, both of which have populations of several hundred, he said. | |
| Up to 12 inches (30cm) of rain was expected in parts of the Bahamas, making roads impassable in the capital, Nassau. | Up to 12 inches (30cm) of rain was expected in parts of the Bahamas, making roads impassable in the capital, Nassau. |
| 'Dangerous storm surge' | 'Dangerous storm surge' |
| Tourists rushed to the airport on Wednesday to catch the final flights out. Smaller hotels closed and larger resorts were fully booked, AP said, with people seeking a place to ride out the storm. | Tourists rushed to the airport on Wednesday to catch the final flights out. Smaller hotels closed and larger resorts were fully booked, AP said, with people seeking a place to ride out the storm. |
| Cruise lines have rerouted ships in the region to avoid the storm's path. | Cruise lines have rerouted ships in the region to avoid the storm's path. |
| The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that "an extremely dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as seven to 11 feet (2.1 to 3.4 meters) above normal tide levels over the central and north-western Bahamas". | The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that "an extremely dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as seven to 11 feet (2.1 to 3.4 meters) above normal tide levels over the central and north-western Bahamas". |
| The NHC said it expected Irene to grow into a category four storm on Thursday with winds of 135 mph. | The NHC said it expected Irene to grow into a category four storm on Thursday with winds of 135 mph. |
| While the exact track of the hurricane, and whether it would make a US landfall, was uncertain, American emergency officials said the east coast from the Carolinas to New England was preparing for its impact. | While the exact track of the hurricane, and whether it would make a US landfall, was uncertain, American emergency officials said the east coast from the Carolinas to New England was preparing for its impact. |
| "This is going to be a big storm. Just because it hits one area doesn't mean its not going to cause damage further up the coast," said Craig Fugate, the head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema). | "This is going to be a big storm. Just because it hits one area doesn't mean its not going to cause damage further up the coast," said Craig Fugate, the head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema). |
| Officials as far north as Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the US have been making preparations for its possible arrival. | Officials as far north as Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the US have been making preparations for its possible arrival. |
| Coastal areas could suffer beach erosion because of tidal-surge waves and tropical-storm winds, warned the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. | Coastal areas could suffer beach erosion because of tidal-surge waves and tropical-storm winds, warned the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. |
| In North Carolina, residents have been buying up fuel and supplies, and plywood to board up windows. | In North Carolina, residents have been buying up fuel and supplies, and plywood to board up windows. |
| Authorities ordered tourists and visitors to evacuate Ocracoke and Hatteras islands, on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Residents of the islands were told to flee on Thursday. | Authorities ordered tourists and visitors to evacuate Ocracoke and Hatteras islands, on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Residents of the islands were told to flee on Thursday. |
| Newly-wed Jennifer Zaharek, 23, of Connecticut, told the Associated Press: "We just got to spend one day on the beach and then we went to bed early to get up for the evacuation." | Newly-wed Jennifer Zaharek, 23, of Connecticut, told the Associated Press: "We just got to spend one day on the beach and then we went to bed early to get up for the evacuation." |
| She and her husband Andrew, who were married on Monday, had hoped to spend their honeymoon on the island. | She and her husband Andrew, who were married on Monday, had hoped to spend their honeymoon on the island. |
| Meanwhile, the US navy has ordered the Second Fleet to prepare to move ships out of the hurricane's path. | Meanwhile, the US navy has ordered the Second Fleet to prepare to move ships out of the hurricane's path. |
| The order applies to ships in south-eastern Virginia, home to the largest naval base in the world. | The order applies to ships in south-eastern Virginia, home to the largest naval base in the world. |
| Woman dies | Woman dies |
| On Tuesday, Irene pelted the UK overseas territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands with high winds and heavy rain. | On Tuesday, Irene pelted the UK overseas territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands with high winds and heavy rain. |
| The US state department warned US citizens against travelling to the region. | The US state department warned US citizens against travelling to the region. |
| Hundreds of people in the Dominican Republic took refuge in schools and churches after they were displaced by storm flooding. | Hundreds of people in the Dominican Republic took refuge in schools and churches after they were displaced by storm flooding. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Government offices, schools and the University of Puerto Rico were closed on Wednesday. | Government offices, schools and the University of Puerto Rico were closed on Wednesday. |
| A 62-year-old woman died while attempting to drive over a swollen river near the capital, San Juan, the Associated Press reported. | A 62-year-old woman died while attempting to drive over a swollen river near the capital, San Juan, the Associated Press reported. |
| And on Tuesday, more than 80 families in the town of Canovanas lost their homes when a river rose suddenly in heavy rain, El Nuevo Dia newspaper said. | And on Tuesday, more than 80 families in the town of Canovanas lost their homes when a river rose suddenly in heavy rain, El Nuevo Dia newspaper said. |
| US President Barack Obama declared an emergency, making the island, a US protectorate, eligible for federal help. | US President Barack Obama declared an emergency, making the island, a US protectorate, 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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