BOBBY_M Artistic: Hurricane Irma causes 'major damage' in Caribbean

Winds of 185mph winds cause havoc across several Caribbean islands as the hurricane makes it way towards Florida.

14:14, UK,Wednesday 06 September 2017

The most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane ever recorded has made landfall in the Caribbean, causing havoc on several islands.

The eye of Hurricane Irma first roared over Barbuda at 1.47am local time, also hitting the nearby island of Antigua.

The islands of St Barts and St Martin were next to be hit, as low-lying areas were hit by flooding, according to the French weather office.

French interior minister Gerard Collomb said all government buildings on the French-run side of the island of St Martin had been destroyed.

"We know that the four most solid buildings on the island have been destroyed which means that more rustic structures have probably been completely or partially destroyed," he told reporters.

French overseas territories minister Annick Girardin said Irma had caused "major damage" on several Caribbean islands.

The hurricane has maintained category five strength with sustained winds near 185mph (295kph), the US National Hurricane Centre said.

The weather station on St Barts measured winds of 151mph (244kph) before its monitoring equipment was destroyed by the storm.

"We are hunkered down and it is very windy... the wind is a major threat," said Garfield Burford, the director of news at Antigua and Barbuda's ABS TV and Radio.

"So far, some roofs have been blown off."

Most people on those islands were without power and around 1,000 people on Antigua were spending the night in shelters, Mr Burford said.

"It's very scary... most of the islands are dark so it's very, very frightening," he added.

The wind sent debris flying as people huddled in their homes, many of which do not have concrete foundations and only wooden roofs.

Tourists in the area were evacuated on Tuesday before the hurricane arrived.

British Airways sent an empty aircraft to the region, bringing 326 customers back to the UK, and a Virgin Atlantic flight left Antigua five hours early to avoid the storm.

The Foreign Office said Britons should follow the advice of authorities and heed any evacuation orders.

Irma is currently heading through the Caribbean towards Florida and may make landfall there at the weekend, but its precise path is uncertain.

The most dangerous winds are forecast to pass near the northern Virgin Islands and near or just north of Puerto Rico during the day on Wednesday.

Hurricane warnings are in place on several islands, including Anguilla, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, the US and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

President Trump has declared emergencies in Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

If it hits Florida it will be the second powerful storm to hit the US mainland in two weeks, after Hurricane Harvey caused devastation and led to around 60 people.

Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis has said the government will evacuate six southern islands as authorities would not be able to help people caught in the "potentially catastrophic" conditions there.