Reports: Northern Caribbean Islands suffer direct hit from powerful Hurricane Irma; Destruction left in storm’s wake
As of 4 p.m. AST Wednesday, this story is no longer being updated. For the latest reports, visit this story.
Puerto Rico and other islands in the Lesser Antilles are preparing for Irma as it tracks dangerously close to the islands as a powerful Category 5 hurricane.
Some of the worst conditions will be felt in the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, and St. Kitts and Nevis into Wednesday. The eye of Irma passed directly over Barbuda early Wednesday. Irma is expected deliver a direct hit to the British Virgin Islands on Wednesday afternoon, while the storm will narrowly spare the U.S. Virgin Islands.
"Winds past 150 mph will cause extensive and catastrophic damage across these islands," AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff said.
A state of emergency has already been declared in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as residents brace for the storm.
A satellite loop of Hurricane Irma moving through the northern Caribbean on Wednesday evening. (Image/NOAA)
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2:34 p.m. AST Wednesday: A report from Loop News in Barbados said that the Princess Juliana airport in St. Martin was destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
Elsewhere, a surfer reportedly died in Barbodos after getting caught in rough surf.
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1:30 p.m. AST Wednesday: The National Hurricane Center says the eye of Hurricane Irma is passing over the British Virgin Islands and will approach Puerto Rico later this afternoon or evening.
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12:36 p.m. AST Wednesday: Anguilla's Chief Minister Victor Banks told the Attorney General of Anguilla, John Mckendrick, that the island is badly affected by the storm and that relief efforts are underway.
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12:23 p.m. AST Wednesday: "Irma’s high winds could result in downed powerlines, complicating the ability to pump water through drinking and waste water systems, especially in Puerto Rico," the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement on Wednesday.
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11:49 a.m. AST Wednesday: The Police Department of Puerto Rico reports that 810 people and 107 pets are at shelters, according to data collected at headquarters. Flooding and strong winds are expected across the island on Wednesday.
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello told MSNBC that there are 460 shelters set up for the storm.
In a Facebook post, he encouraged residents to stay in a "safe place."
The U.S. Coast Guard in Puerto Rico are "stationing in place" at the Air Station Borinquen.
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10:54 a.m. AST Wednesday: The Virgin Islands are bracing for the catastrophic impacts of Irma as the storm closes in with 185-mph winds.
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10:45 a.m. AST Wednesday: Puerto Rico is feeling the impacts of Hurricane Irma as the storm continues on its path, wreaking havoc on numerous islands in the Caribbean.
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9 a.m. AST Wednesday: Images continue to emerge on social media that show the damage caused by Hurricane Irma on the affected islands of Anguilla, St. Martin and St. Barts.
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7:30 a.m. AST Wednesday: Irma has made landfall on the french island of St. Martin. Reports and videos are emerging of significant damage as the eye of the storm went right over the island.
Video from Meteo Express, a French weather source, shows significant inundation of the capital of Philipsburg.
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7 a.m. AST Wednesday: Following Irma's path over Barbuda, water levels rose sharply and reached a peak of approximately 7.89 feet above Mean Higher High Water at 2:12 AST. Water levels have since fallen and are measuring about 1-2 feet above normal tide levels, according to the National Hurricane Center's Storm Surge Unit.
Wind sensors have subsequently been damaged or destroyed.
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4:30 a.m. AST Wednesday: Following landfall in Barbuda, Major Hurricane Irma continues to barrel towards Anguilla with 53 knot gusts. Very few reports have come out of Barbuda as the storm has wiped out most forms of communication.
ABS Radio in Antigua says it hasn't had any contact with Barbuda in three hours.
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2:45 a.m. AST Wednesday:
Via ABS TV in Antigua, several roofs have blown off in Barbuda, including one of a police station.
Broadcasters are urging viewers to contact the station as they have yet to get in contact with anyone from Barbuda.
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1:30 a.m. AST Wednesday: After gusting to 155 mph, winds abruptly calmed as the island of Barbuda entered the eye.
(Satellite/NOAA)
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11:40 p.m. AST Tuesday: A 75 mph wind gust was reported on Barbuda as Irma is steadily approaching the island as conditions continue to deteriorate.
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FEMA has already arrived in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to provide assistance with preparing for Irma and to support ongoing operations.
President Donald Trump has also approved Puerto Rico’s disaster declaration request. This will help the territory receive more funding and resources from the federal government because of Irma.
VA Task Force 2 arriving in Puerto Rico with supplies ahead of Irma's arrival. (Photo/FEMA)
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A 36-hour curfew is in effect for the entirety of the U.S. Virgin Islands, beginning at 6:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Multiple shelters will be open in St John, St. Thomas and St. Croix for people that need a place to stay as Irma impacts the island.
Gov. Ricardo Rossello of Puerto Rico has asked President Donald Trump for a declaration of emergency ahead of the arrival of Irma. If the request is granted, it would open up federal resources to Puerto Rico.
Gov. Kenneth Mapp of the U.S. Virgin Islands has also sent an emergency declaration request to the White House in preparation of Irma and its potentially devastating impacts on the islands.
Commercial flights to and from the U.S. Virgin Islands have been canceled until further notice due to the approaching hurricane.
“To ensure everyone’s safety, the request for postponed scheduled visits to our islands remains in effect until Hurricane Irma passes,” the U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism said. http://www.usviupdate.com/
Cyber School Supply Christopher Rodriguez is supported as he installs wood panels over a storefront window in preparation for Hurricane Irma, in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. Irma grew into a dangerous Category 5 storm, the most powerful seen in the Atlantic in over a decade, and roared toward islands in the northeast Caribbean Tuesday. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
