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| Hurricane Irene reaches category three on way to US | Hurricane Irene reaches category three on way to US |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Hurricane Irene has grown to category three force as it barrels towards the east coast of the United States. | Hurricane Irene has grown to category three force as it barrels towards the east coast of the United States. |
| Irene is now packing winds of 120 mph (193km/h) near the Bahamas, and the storm could reach the US mainland by the end of the week. | |
| Tourists are being evacuated from an island off North Carolina and people are already stocking up on supplies in coastal areas of the US state. | |
| The huge storm has brought flooding and power cuts across the Caribbean. | |
| Federal officials have warned it could do the same along the US east coast as far north as Maine, even if it stays offshore. | |
| Irene may strengthen | |
| On Wednesday afternoon, Irene was about 250 miles south-east of Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, and crawling north-east at about 12mph. | |
| Forecasters say the hurricane - which spans more than 400 miles - could strengthen to a category four storm by Thursday. | |
| Officials as far north as Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the US have been making preparations for its possible arrival. | |
| In North Carolina, residents have been buying up fuel and supplies, and plywood to board up windows. | |
| Tourists began evacuating Ocracoke Island, off North Carolina, on Wednesday, loading their cars on to ferries bound for the mainland. | |
| The 800 or so residents who live on the barrier island have been advised to evacuate on Thursday. | |
| A number of tourists have caught flights off the Bahamas ahead of the storm's arrival there. | A number of tourists have caught flights off the Bahamas ahead of the storm's arrival there. |
| Smaller hotels were shut on the island and larger resorts were booked up with people seeking a place to ride out the storm. | Smaller hotels were shut on the island and larger resorts were booked up with people seeking a place to ride out the storm. |
| The storm was expected to make many roads impassable in downtown Nassau, the Bahamian capital. | The storm was expected to make many roads impassable in downtown Nassau, the Bahamian capital. |
| Coastal areas could suffer beach erosion because of tidal-surge waves and tropical-storm winds, warned the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Craig Fugate, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, advised residents of the east coast from the Mid-Atlantic region up to New England to prepare for the hurricane's arrival. | Craig Fugate, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, advised residents of the east coast from the Mid-Atlantic region up to New England to prepare for the hurricane's arrival. |
| "It's going to be close and whether we get a brush or whether we have a landfall, it's too early to say," he told ABC television. | "It's going to be close and whether we get a brush or whether we have a landfall, it's too early to say," he told ABC television. |
| "Go ahead and make sure you're ready and then if evacuations are required, heed those evacuation orders." | "Go ahead and make sure you're ready and then if evacuations are required, heed those evacuation orders." |
| 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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