Hurricane Irma on Thursday left a trail of destruction and caused at least 13 deaths as it made landfall in a number of islands in the Caribbean, the BBC reported.
Among the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded over the Atlantic Ocean, Irma is currently moving from the Northern Virgin Islands, the United States National Hurricane Center said.
The islands of Antigua and Barbuda were the first ones hit by Hurricane Irma.
Gaston Browne, the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, estimated that nearly 95% of the buildings were damaged. “I am of the view that as it stands now, Barbuda is barely habitable,” he said. “The island is literally under water.”
Electricity supply has been stopped on both the French islands, and emergency crews are trying to reach the worst-affected areas, though it has not been easy. St Martin’s airport has been completely destroyed.
It is currently north of the Dominican Republic, heading towards Turks and Caicos. It is expected to reach Florida by Saturday, the BBC reported.
The low-lying Turks and Caicos islands, a British overseas territory, could see destructive waves up to 20ft higher than usual. Virginia Clerveaux, director of the Turks and Caicos Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies, told the BBC even inland areas could be inundated.
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