Hurricane Irma uproots palm trees in downtown Miami
Downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm, Irma flooded several northern Florida cities with heavy rain and a high storm surge today as it headed out of the state after cutting power to millions and ripping roofs off homes.
Irma, once ranked as one of the most powerful hurricanes recorded in the Atlantic, hit a wide swath of Florida over the last day.
It now has sustained winds of up to 70 miles per hour.
The Cuban government on Monday reported that 10 people had been killed after Irma battered the island’s north coast with ferocious winds and 36-foot waves over the weekend.
This raised the overall death toll from Irma’s powerful rampage through the Caribbean to 38.
Help for Caribbean territories
In the meantime, Bermuda's Premier David Burt is urging the United Kingdom to fulfil its obligations to Britain’s Overseas Territories in the Caribbean following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma last week.
Acting in his capacity as president of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (OTA), Mr. Burt said there is an urgent need for health and social welfare support.
Mr. Burt’s statement follows heavy criticism over the UK government’s response to the storm that has decimated parts of the region, flattening buildings, cutting off communications, and leaving more than 20 people dead.
Three British territories: Anguilla, British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos were damaged by Irma.
Last Thursday, British Prime Minister Theresa May increased the country’s aid package for the region to £32 million.
UK Defence Minister Michael Fallon said hundreds of troops, engineers and other resources would be provided.
EU
Meanwhile, the European Union said it has a moral duty to help those whose lives and homes were destroyed or severely threatened by Hurricane Irma.
EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, on Monday morning announced that the organisation is mobilising further assistance for countries in the region affected by the hurricane.
He said the EU has released an initial €2 million for the most affected.
Mr. Stylianides said this will help support key sectors such as water and sanitation, health, waste management, and logistics.
He said further funding for reconstruction efforts will be made available in the long term.
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