Areas hit by hurricane IRMA become mostly uninhabitable
Prime minister of the two-island Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda has described his country as “barely habitable” after the monster hurricane struck.
He described the damage caused by the super storm as “absolute devastation,” adding that 95 per cent of buildings on Barbuda had been damaged or destroyed.
“It is heart-wrenching, absolutely devastating,” he said. “I have never seen any such destruction on a per-capita before as I saw when I was in Barbuda this afternoon. The telecommunications system is totally destroyed, we have seen cell towers snapped in two. Barbuda now is literally rubble.”
The airport on Barbuda has been completely destroyed, making it extremely difficult to evacuate the residents, should the trailing hurricane JOSE turns toward the islands.
Bahamas
Prime minister of Bahamas said the Government was evacuating six islands in what he called the largest storm evacuation in the country’s history because authorities would be unable to help anyone caught in the “potentially catastrophic” hurricane.
St. Martin and the British Virgin Island: Widespread damage reported. “It is an enormous disaster. Ninety-five percent of the island is destroyed. I am in shock,” a senior official on St. Martin said.
Puerto Rico: The U.S. territory was hammered with high winds and heavy rains, which left about 75 percent of the population without electricity.
Dominican Republic: Mandatory evacuation of towns and communities along the northern Atlantic coast.
USA
South Carolina has declared a state of emergency, and Florida has declared a state of emergency for every county in the Sunshine State.
Mandatory Evacuations: Miami-Dade County (including cities of Miami and Miami Beach), Broward County, Monroe County (comprising the Florida Keys).
Death Toll: IRMA has claimed about a dozen lives so far.
Hurricane IRMA Status as at 11:00 AM AST Thu. Sep 7
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE IRMA HEADING FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS. HURRICANE AND STORM SURGE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE FLORIDA KEYS. [NHC]
Location: 20.4°N, 69.7°W
Moving: WNW at 16 mph
Min pressure: 921 mb
Max sustained: 175 mph (~ 285 km/h)
Hurricane JOSE Status as at 11:00 AM AST Thu Sep 7
JOSE EXPECTED TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE BY FRIDAY. WATCHES ISSUED FOR THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS. [NHC]
Location: 14.9°N, 50.6°W
Moving: WNW at 18 mph
Min pressure: 986 mb
Max sustained: 90 mph (~ 145 km/h)
Hurricane KATIA Status as at 10:00 AM CDT Thu Sep 7
KATIA EXPECTED TO BEGIN MOVING TOWARD THE COAST OF MEXICO TONIGHT OR EARLY FRIDAY. [NHC]
Location: 21.6°N 94.6°W
Moving: Stationary
Min pressure: 980 mb
Max sustained: 80 mph (~ 130 km/h)
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