The number of victims of hurricane Irma increases, the most powerful that has ever formed in the Atlantic, with winds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. There are nine deaths recorded so far. Nearly 90% of the islands of Barbuda are razed. Michael Joseph, of the Red Cross, spoke of an "unprecedented devastation". Several islands in the northeastern Caribbean were also destroyed, including Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy and Anguilla. Alert again in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, where Irma is expected to arrive this evening.
ALERT IN FLORIDA
The hurricane is expected to hit Florida over the weekend, for which US President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency. The governor of the American state, Rick Scott, has mobilized a total of 8 thousand men of the National Guard and another 7.000 will enter service tomorrow. Tourists have already been ordered to leave the state.
Scott also launched a dramatic appeal to the population: hurricane Irma, category 5 (the highest), is "bigger, stronger and faster than hurricane Andrew", which devastated Florida in August 25 years ago. “Don't sit around waiting,” he added, because “we can rebuild homes but we can't rebuild your lives. Take what you need." Statewide Scott said "every family needs to be ready by today."
UN, IMF, MACRON
According to the UN, Irma could affect a total of 37 million people. The International Monetary Fund says it is ready to help the countries affected by the hurricane. “The budget will be cruel – announced the French president, Emmanuel Macron – An emergency fund and a national reconstruction plan will be established as quickly as possible”.
THE SITUATION IN THE BAHAMAS
The Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Hubert Minnis, announced that his government has ordered a mandatory evacuation of the islands in the southern part of the archipelago. Minnis said the hurricane poses a dire threat to the islands of Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins, Long Cay and Ragged Island. The people living on these islands will be relocated today to Nassau on New Providence Island.
THE DAMAGE TO PUERTO RICO
In Puerto Rico 965 people were left in the dark. This was announced by the local authorities, pointing out that 50 are without water while 14 hospitals continue to function only thanks to emergency power generators.
TWO NEW HURRICANES COMING SOON
Meanwhile, two new hurricanes have formed in the Gulf of Mexico, Katia and José. The former is moving slowly and is expected to remain off the Mexican coast until Friday; the second is currently en route to the Caribbean.
