.png)
Ronald Jackson, Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)
The British Virgin Islands are now feeling impact of Hurricane Irma, the most powerful storm in the Atlantic in a decade.
A resident, Philomena Robertson, who spoke with RJR News, said electricity was turned off from 6 o'clock Wednesday morning due to heavy winds.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Irma left structural damage as it made its way across the northern Leeward Islands on Wednesday morning.
The hurricane made landfall in Antigua and Barbuda where there were reports of damage to property, including roofs being blown off.
Some trees were also toppled.
Cleanup operations started early Wednesday morning and Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who expressed relief at the minimal damage in Antigua, said the country can soon resume normal life.
Three people sought medical attention for minor injuries.
Efforts are being made to restore communication lines in Barbuda.
At the same time, there was widespread flooding and electrical blackouts on the islands of St. Barthélemy and St. Martin.
In St. Barthelemy, the French government said the fire station was flooded and the fire truck was out of service.
Several homes have been damaged and rooves blown off.
In St. Martin, government offices and the fire station have been damaged. There are also reports of rooves being blown off.
In the meantime, in the Dutch territory, known as Sint Maarten, there has been a total power blackout, streets are littered with debris, cars are under water and boats in the ports have been destroyed. The airport has also been closed.
CDEMA
Ronald Jackson, Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), said the organisation is on high alert to provide assistance to countries affected by Hurricane Irma.
Mr. Jackson told RJR News that the countries have not indicated a need for emergency assistance.
He said CDEMA will continue to monitor developments in Barbuda, while the focus is now on determining if the Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands as well as the Bahamas will need assistance.
Forecast
On the forecast track, the extremely dangerous core of Irma will move over sections of the Virgin Islands, pass near or just north of Puerto Rico Wednesday afternoon or Wednesday night and then the coast of the Dominican Republic on Thursday.
It is expected to be near the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas late Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 183 miles per hour with higher gusts.
Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two, but Irma is forecast to remain a powerful category 4 or 5 hurricane during the next couple of days.
Jose
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Jose, is now forecast to become a hurricane by Wednesday night.
It is forecast to hit Caribbean islands currently being lashed by Irma, at the weekend.
comments powered by Disqus
All feeds
