More than three months after the terrorist attack which killed 22 people. And englands cricketers wrap up the series against the west indies good evening and welcome to bbc news. Hurricane irma is continuing to sweep its way across the caribbean, en route to the us coast, leaving a path of devastation. In cuba, a Million People almost a tenth of the countrys population have been moved to safety, along with thousands of tourists. State media said it was the first time the eye of a category five storm had made landfall in the country for 85 years. Winds pounded cubas northern coast, causing flooding and bringing down power lines. The bahamas have largely been spared after the storm changed course. This is irmas trajectory. Turks and caicos behind it, making its way to cuba. Its expected to make landfall with us coast tomorrow, before heading inland. In florida, more than6 Million People, a quarter of its population, have been told to evacuate. Officials have confirmed that six people have been killed in British Virgin islands and anguilla. And theres another hurricane approaching the caribbean. Hurricanejose has strengthened to a category four, driving winds of 125 miles an hour, and forecasters warn it could strengthen still further. The bbcs Aleem Maqbool is in miami and sent this report. Theres little left for people to do in florida but to get somewhere safe and wait. This hurricane shelter, like so many more across the city, is packed to capacity. Wejust decided, we were going to leave. We got up and saw on the tv all the traffic backed up, to atlanta. We said, we have waited too late to leave. So we stayed. I mean, we left everything, you know. 0ur furniture. 0ur appartment. But like i would say, material things, we can build them again. I think the most important is the family, you know . After days of talking, after all the warnings, it is now starting to feel real for the people of florida. The skies have darkened, the winds have picked up, and in the coming hours, people here expect to be in the firm grip of Hurricane Irma. Nasas recorded this spectacular footage of the eye of irma, and its massive cloud mass all on a projected course for florida. In spite of the huge evacuation of the state, there are many in florida, like vince, who want to stay in their homes with their belongings right through the hurricane. Whats out of your hands, out of mother natures hands, you cant control. What you can control is boarding up, protecting it, having water and generators, having gas. Making sure there are no big trees right next to your house. You think youre going to be ok . I think so, yes. But thousands dont want to risk gambling with nature. They re anxious, though, about the city they will emerge out into once irma has passed. Aleem maqbool, bbc news, miami, florida. There is a serious threat of significant storm surge flooding. There is a serious threat of significant storm surge flooding along the entire west coast of florida. And this has increased to 15 feet of impact above ground level. 15 feet of impact above ground level. Think about that, 15 feet is devastating, and will cover your house. In the tampa bay area, the surge is forecast to be 5 8 feet. Think about that. The typical first storey is 7 10 feet, 5 8 feet. This is a life threatening situation. Lets get more reaction from the state of florida. Major richard rand is from the North Miami BeachPolice Department and hejoins me live via webcam. Really appreciate the time you are giving to us here. We can imagine how busy you are. We were hearing from governor rick scott that talking about the storm surge, how worried are you about this . We have a. Very close to the beach, but i can tell you that the North Miami Beach department is very well prepared. As you can see behind me, i have opened up our vehicle for you to see. I want you to take a look at the side of the vehicle, this is what we will use to save people, if ican take what we will use to save people, if i can take you inside real quick. The officers will be taking people out of the flooded areas and rescue them come bringing them into the vehicle. I know that the governor spoke about 15 feet storm surges, as you can see by the size of the tyres and the size of this awesome machine, we are prepared. We are doing everything we can to make sure we are prepared for Hurricane Irma, to keep the residents safe and rescue anyone that needs rescuing. That is fantastic that you could let us see that is fantastic that you could let us see what the vehicle looks like inside, how long do you anticipate you will have to wait before you can venture out onto the streets of miami to start rescuing people and finding those that need your help, how long will you have to use it that storm out . We are definitely all here, we will sit the storm out, and send officers out as soon as it is safe for us to get out there. I would probably say sunday night, early monday morning, depending on weather the storm slows down or speed up. Whatever the situation is and what ever the time frame is, we are completely prepared to get out there back. It already looks very breezy behind you, it looks too, as well. Is everybody out . Are you happy with the way the Evacuation Order has been heeded by the residents . Yes, i can tell you the Police Department as well as partnering agencies, did an excellent job in partnering agencies, did an excellentjob in warning residents to get out. Unfortunately, some people want to stay in their homes. With a storm like this coming, it is not recommended. We are hearing about people being told to head out to these shelters. For those people that cant go to the shelters, where is the safest place, where else could they seek safety . is the safest place, where else could they seek safety . I can tell you based on my own experience and some of my friends, we have had our families go to northern florida, even further than that, because now the storm is moving north. We are asking people to reach out to family and friends not in evacuation zones to stay with somebody else. If the shelters are full, we are doing everything we possibly can to relocate these people, even if we have to take them to another county. Whats your first port of call, whats at the top of your list . 0nce Hurricane Irma has passed, and you venture out onto the streets, what do you look for first, and what is your priority . Our priority is to rescue anybody that needs our help, oui rescue anybody that needs our help, our priority is to protect property, oui our priority is to protect property, our priority is to protect property, our priority is to enforce the law, oui our priority is to enforce the law, our priority is to enforce the law, our priority is to make sure that quys our priority is to make sure that guys arent doing some of the things that they normally do in these storms. But our number one priority is to save peoples lives. Really appreciate your time. Stay safe, thank you very much. Thank you. Lets hear more from florida, hetal gandhi lives in Jacksonville Florida and joins from there now via webcam. How are things injacksonville . How are things in jacksonville . They area how are things in jacksonville . They are a little windy right now, but it isa are a little windy right now, but it is a little deceiving, because this is a little deceiving, because this is when we are wind we are getting. It makes people feel like there is a hurricane coming, but it is not Hurricane Irma. People are definitely taking the storm seriously. I have lived in florida my whole life, when hurricanes come, people dont leave. We had matthew last year, but this year, a lot of people are leaving. I do want to show you something, though. This is something that is a little tricky. If you take a look at this side of the street where i live, that is the river, right there. And people often talk about storm surge and ocean flooding, but we worried about bad river coming up. All these homes that you see here, these are all supposed to evacuate. A lot of these folks have not left. So a lot of the people by the ocean are heeding the warning, but a lot of these people have not left. You come on this side of the street, and those homes are not part of the evacuation zone, so those people dont have to leave. But when you see how close we are to the river, it makes people feel uneasy when you think about the fact that there is just one side of the street that has two evacuate, and one that doesnt. You can see this house right here, folks are already boarding up. People that are staging are making sure they are taking precautions and folks that are leaving are making sure they do everything they can to protect their homes before they get out of here. We are hearing that the hurricane centre, the National Hurricane centre, has increased this risk of the storm surge, so we appreciate you showing us the river there. That is what is going to be affected. What have you been telling you . The residents that arent leaving, have they been saying to you why they have to decide to stay . Some did not have to decide to stay . Some did not have enough time to figure out where to go, or they feel like they have been here before, during hurricanes, and they feel like it is going to be 0k. And they feel like it is going to be ok. But as you have heard, all over the state of florida, what they are saying about the storm is that it is unlike anything we have seen. The hurricane covers the entire state, thatis hurricane covers the entire state, that is how big it is. A lot of people saw the track overnight, and see that it is now going up the west coast, instead of up the east coast. For me in jacksonville, coast, instead of up the east coast. For me injacksonville, we are on the east coast, you might think it is good news, but it is deceptive. When you are on the other side of the storm, the dirty side of the storm, we can get a lot of tornadoes. In some ways, that is more dangerous, because we dont know when, when tornadoes come, they are know when, when tornadoes come, they a re less know when, when tornadoes come, they are less predictable. At least we know when the hurricane is coming. Hetal gandhi in jacksonville, thank you very much. 0ur correspondent will grant is in havana. They have been very, very badly hit. For example, a fishing village, a well known fishing village, called caibarien is largely submerged under water. That whole coastline is very popular with tourists, and we understand several quays are now cut off from the mainland. And water has surged over the sea walls in a number of areas along the northern coast here, in havana, where a lot of tourists and cuban people were brought for protection is also now facing a hurricane warning. I can tell you that the winds are whipping up significantly at this stage. A lot of people are worried about the rain being dumped, that can cause storm surges in what is obviously a coastal city here in havana. Michael fallon outlined the rescue and recovery effort being lined out by the government. Al ships have been helping across the island and there are troops now on the islands. And in total, we have some 500 troops in the region by tonight. We have 2 3 flights now going out each day bringing further troops, further engineers, medicalsupport, day bringing further troops, further engineers, medical support, palettes ofaid, and engineers, medical support, palettes of aid, and additional civilian police and helicopters to make sure the aid can be properly distributed around the island. So the relief operation is well underway. Joining me now from whitehall is our Political Correspondent chris mason. Michael fallon speaking there, chris, reassuring words for those in the caribbean, do you think . Michael fallon giving that interviewed today after the cobra meeting up, which he chaired, involving officials and ministers across whitehall as they coordinate the British Governments response. Clearly, there is a sense of irritation from those in government as what they see as unjustified gritters is that has come their way from labour leader jeremy corbyn, and from two select committee chairs, so senior mps that felt the British Government response wasnt as quick as it could have been. They are clearly emphasising they have done as much as they can and will continue to do as much as they can. For instance, they point to the royal fleet auxiliary mount spurra, to the royal fleet auxiliary mount spurr a, which is a boat that they have deployed to the caribbean in anticipation of the Hurricane Season. So not in response to these particular storms, but acknowledging that at this time of year, you do tend to get hurricanes in that part of the world. They emphasise, too, that they managed to reopen the airport on the British Virgin islands, which they saw as absolutely crucial to getting aid in there. There is a further boat en route from the mediterranean, hms 0cean, although it will be several days until that is there. But they are days until that is there. But they a re clearly keen days until that is there. But they are clearly keen to emphasise that they are doing as much as they can, whilst acknowledging that the scale of the Hurricane Season this year, and the scale of the devastation we have just been reporting, and the scale of the devastation we havejust been reporting, it and the scale of the devastation we have just been reporting, it is something that clearly requires one heck of a response. Christmas and in whitehall, we will leave it there for now, thank you. Giles cadman is on the line, thank you for speaking to us, giles, how are you and what news are you getting from the bvis . It has been difficult to coordinate an effort from puerto rico. We left on monday, knowing the storm would hit, despite people suggesting it would pass north. We got out so we can coordinate the effort. We formed a group online, and we have simply motivated captains and boat owners in puerto rico to take supplies since almost a few hours after the hurricane passed, as soon as it was safe to get on the water. Because there was nothing prepared by the local government, or the British Government. I dont think anybody properly appreciated the severity of a cat five hurricane. What are the immediate needs of the residents who remain on the bvis . What are you hearing . There are a lot of injuries, a lot of people require medical assistance will stop the hospital is overwhelmed. A lot of the information has been kept quite quiet, to not really cause much alarm. Most people will have had 2 3 days worth of water or food supplies, but their homes have been destroyed. I think about 85 of the properties suffered significant damage. But to understand the bvis, it is 60 islands, and it is quite a mountainous place. So there are pockets and groups of people that are completely cut off from the rest of the island. The very small effort that has taken place, there is a little bit of food in the main town, but you cant get to that in the majority of places. 0ther islands are completely disconnected. We were just hearing from michael fallon, who was outlining the aid that britain is co ordinated for those in need, for example at the bvis. Do you think that is enough . Not even close. In your knowledge, are you getting it . No, not getting it at all. I dont think anyone appreciate how difficult it is to get to the bvi s. Everything is shipped in by boat from miami. And a boat comes to the bvis every four days. The supplies on the island will only be good for that four days. And that is only if it hasnt been completely destroyed. We have got the prison. It was destroyed. Half the prisoners escaped, half of them were let out because there was no food and water at the prison. They are obviously as desperate as everybody else to get food, water, clothing. Who is in charge, giles . Have you heard about the security situation, then, in terms of law and order . Yes, in certain places, its safe. Some places are cut off, but it is not safe in other areas. As you can appreciate, people are getting beyond desperate. If you have no food and water, you are going to go and find food and water. We know from people on the ground that there are armed groups, going around from house to house, not looting, simply trying to find food, water, clothing, basic essentials. 0k giles, we appreciate your time, i can tell it is upsetting for you, but thank you for sharing this story on the British Virgin islands as we know it. We have 250 marines, and we need 2000. Right, 0k. Giles, we had to leave it there for now, but i appreciate your time. Thank you very much for that. That is the situation from a resident who managed to escape to canada, and is try to coordinate a relief effort via puerto rico, describing a very serious and worrying situation on the British Virgin islands. Rob gutro, deputy news chief at nasa joins us now from greenbelt, maryland. Thank you forjoining us here at bbc news. First off, your reaction to Hurricane Irma. It is an amazing storm. It is going to be a very catastrophic storm when it hits the us mainland is, as it was in the islands in the caribbean. It is something we have dreaded since andrew in florida, in 1992. We saw the pictures from nasa, really showing the scale. Hurricane irma looks like a beast, an absolute beast. What are your immediate concerns as it leads cuba and starts to make its way to florida . Because it is now a category three. That is right, it is a category three storm. It is moving into warm waters, and warm water powers cyclones. It gives itan warm water powers cyclones. It gives it an event to strengthen, so we are watching that closely and providing satellite data to the National Hurricane centre from our fleet of satellites that cover things from temperatures to cloud heights, to rainfall rates in storms. We have been following the story of harvey, and that was slow moving, even when it got down to a job. There was that danger because of its slow movement. What is the difference when it comes to Hurricane Irma . Furthermore, there is hurricanejose as well. To Hurricane Irma . Furthermore, there is hurricane jose as well. The difference with harvey is it has no atmosphere mechanism to push it. So its stalled over texas, and that is why we had a flooding. We saw rainfall rates, very high rainfall rates, and rainfall accumulations up to 50 inches in eastern texas. And we have a satellite called the Global Precipitation Mission satellite that can tally rainfall from space. We are using that to determine rainfall rates within a hurricane. In terms of Hurricane Irma, that gpm satellite flew overhead when it was a cadbury five, and we saw rainfall rates around the eye of ten inches per hour. Pretty impressive. I think we have to leave it there, rob gutro, thank you very much. Jane 0brien is in miami in florida and joins me now. How are things going there . A bit breezy behind you. Basically, we have been talking about evacuations for the last several days. This is it, if people havent got out now, then they cant, that is the bottom line. Furthermore, the hurricane has shifted to the west coast, which was supposed to be a safe area. That was an area where people thought they could flee from the hurricane. Now it seems that might take a direct hit. In real terms, that doesnt mean that the rest of the state is escaping, because this is a storm thatis escaping, because this is a storm that is twice the size of florida it self. So florida is going to get walloped. It is a case of finding out where is going to get hit worst. It is due to make landfall here round about sunday morning sometime. We are already starting to feel these little flurries of squally weather, rain, sun bursts of wind. People are now being told, hunker down, stay in place, dont try to go anywhere at this point because it is too late, and there is a jerk you hear that starts in a few hours time, around foura hear that starts in a few hours time, around four a clock. Why in particular miami, with regards to the storm surge . We are talking about a storm surge 15 feet high. Although miami is better able to withstand that because of the infrastructure, the real danger is in the quays site from here. Those islands could be completely obliterate it. I was talking to someone obliterate it. I was talking to someone but fled the quays overnight last month, his kids had gone to alabama, his family is scattered. Baited the decision for the first time in their lives, having dodged so many storms, they werent going to risk this one. They fled. 0ther people are staying, their lives are at risk. 0k jane obrien in miami, thank you for that. And there is plenty more on Hurricane Irma on our website, bbc. Co. Uk news. Plenty on irma and hurricanejose coming up. Rescue operations are under way in mexico after its most powerful earthquake in nearly a century killed more than 60 people. Three of the poorest states in the country suffered the most, losing hundreds of buildings. President pena nieto has declared a national day of mourning. Manchester arenas doors have opened this evening for a special benefit concert, nearly four months after the suicide bombing which killed 22 people. The event will be headlined by Noel Gallaghers high flying birds. Danielle hewson is there for us now. A nice amount of people behind you, the barriers are up, what is the atmosphere like . It is fair to say the atmosphere is certainly mixed. There is a great deal of trepidation among people that have come here this evening, but also a determination that they really wa nted determination that they really wanted to be part of this event, that they wanted to celebrate everything that was wonderful about manchester, and they wanted to reclaim this space. Of course, 22 people lost their lives here back in may. Many of them children, the youngest of course just eight years old. This concert tonight is very much about remembering them, but moving forward. All the proceeds will go towards a memorial. As you say, Noel Gallagher is headlining, but the whole thing was opened by poet tony walsh, and he certainly was very emotional. I caught up with him before he went on. It is notjust my responsibility, there is a whole fantastic line up in there. And i think we are going to have a very special evening. I had the privilege and responsibility of opening the show, i will perform the poem i shared in Albert Square the day after the terrible bombing. This is the place. It was quite a moment that night, people have said nice things for the last about it. And i think it will be a nice moment again this evening. It is the bridge between that day and this day, and then we can move on with the show, i think. That is what many people are seeing this event as, as a bridge, as a way to remember what happened, but then go forward for the venue and the city. Absolutely. Lets remember what a night it about, 22 people lost their lives here, hundreds were injured. Tonight, we pay our respects. We are raising money to make a permanent memorial to those people that day, and we are going to have a good time as well. Because thatis have a good time as well. Because that is the spirit of manchester. We will bounce back from this and not let this change our lifestyle. How important was we have a world class rostov artist in manchester. It is going to be a special moment when noel takes the stage, rick astley, the man the legend, it is going to be great. There are a few stragglers going in, most people arrived in plenty of time. Of course, security here has been incredibly tight. People are not allowed to bring in backpacks, and were told to allow extra time. Armed Police Patrolling as well. Inside the venue, importantly, councillors are on stand by if people want to come to talk to them. In the audience tonight, i have spoken to many people here on that evening back in may. They very much wa nted evening back in may. They very much wanted to replace the memories. They wa nted wanted to replace the memories. They wanted to replace the memories. They wanted to reclaim this place and really have a happy day. That is what this evening has been all about. Security, as i say, is tight and will continue throughout the rest of the night. There will be a chord in towards the end of the evening to make sure everyone has a safe and happy time. We are expecting Noel Gallagher to perform dont look back in anger. It has been claimed by the city after what happened back in may. Dani alves, thank you very much. We dont you take you to Sunny Isles Beach in miami. This is the scene right now. Clearly, you can see there, the waves are picking up, the winds are picking up as well. That is Hurricane Irma making her way in, expected to make landfall in the early hours of sunday, currently a category three as it crosses the northern coast of cuba, expected to pick up strength as it travels across one waters to florida. We are watching this closely. More on this at the top of the hour. In the meantime, we stick with the weather theme. Something a little bit quieterfor us something a little bit quieterfor us in the British Isles but it was a mixed bag. And in any one location because