Hurricane Irma causes major damage in Caribbean

Hurricane Irma has destroyed buildings and caused major flooding on several French island territories in the Caribbean.

French Interior Minister has confirmed that the four "most solid" buildings on Saint Martin, shared by France and the Netherlands, were destroyed.

Significant damage is also being reported in the Dutch section.

The category five hurricane, the highest possible level, has sustained wind speeds reaching 295km/h.

The most powerful Atlantic storm in a decade first hit Antigua and Barbuda, before moving on to Saint Martin and the French holiday destination popularly known as St Barts.

Its "extremely dangerous core" is forecast by the US National Hurricane Center to move over parts of the northern Virgin Islands today, passing near or just north of Puerto Rico, then passing near or just north of the coast of the Dominican Republic tomorrow.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from at‑risk areas across the Caribbean.

In the US, Florida's Key West area has ordered a mandatory evacuation, with landfall expected at the weekend.

Source: BBC