The most powerful storm to hit cuba in more than 80 years is moving slowly along the islands north coast, causing floods and widespread damage. The government has extended its maximum alert to more provinces, as well as havana. Fierce winds from Hurricane Irma have ripped off rooftops, uprooted trees and torn down power lines. One Million People, nearly a tenth of cubas population, have been evacuated. Our correspondent will grant is in havana with the latest on the situation. Cubans had hoped they might avoid the worst of the hurricane. They had no such luck. With the full force of a category 5 storm, the hurricane tore through the islands northern shore. The storm surge almost completely engulfing several small fishing villages. Electricity and communication links are out across swathes of the country. Some communities along the coast are wondering how they will ever rebuild, others are bracing themselves for irmas impact. Even in the big cities, people are getting nervous. Translati
My home is not in a good state so i hope the hurricane stays away and moves out to sea. Translation its one of the bigger storms we have ever seen so we have to get ready. As Hurricane Irma rumbles along the coast of cuba, even those places that were supposed to serve as safe havens, like the capital havana, are now under hurricane warning. And for the many thousands who are evacuated here, theyre just hoping they still have homes to go back to. Cuba was in the middle of a tourism boom when the storm struck and thousands of holidaymakers found themselves suddenly trapped in the biggest hurricane to hit cuba in 80 years. Beyond those whove had the holidays ruined, this could also cut short cubas efforts to rebuild its crippled economy. Tourism has been the main economic motor of the island recently, this could set them back for many months. Theres also been widespread damage in the British Virgin islands. Laura bicker is in tortola. Well, its five people died here in the British Virgin
Translation im really worried. My home isnt in a good state, so i hope the hurricane stays away and moves out to sea. Translation its one of the bigger storms weve ever seen, so we have to get ready. As Hurricane Irma rumbles along the coast of cuba, even those places that were supposed to serve as safe havens, like the capital, havana, are now under hurricane warning. And, for the many thousands who were evacuated here, well, they are just hoping they still have homes to go back to. Cuba was in the middle of a tourism boom when the storm struck and thousands of holidaymakers found themselves suddenly trapped in the biggest hurricane to hit cuba in 80 years. Beyond those whove had the holidays ruined, this could also cut short cubas efforts to rebuild its crippled economy. Tourism has been the main economic motor of the island recently. Irma could set that back for many months. There has also been widespread damage in the British Virgin islands. Laura bicker is in tortola. Well, its fi
Which claimed 22 lives. Hello and welcome to bbc news. The most powerful storm to hit cuba in more than 80 years is moving slowly along the islands north coast, causing floods and widespread damage. Fierce winds from Hurricane Irma have ripped off rooftops, uprooted trees, and torn down power lines. One Million People, nearly a tenth of cubas population, have been evacuated. Our correspondent will grant reports from havana. Cubans had hoped they might avoid the worst of Hurricane Irma. They had no such luck. With the full force of a category five storm, the hurricane tore through the islands northern shore, the storm surge almost completely engulfing several small fishing villages. Electricity and communication links are out across swathes of the country. As some communities along the coast are wondering how they will ever rebuild, others are bracing themselves for irmas impact. Even in the big cities, people are getting nervous. Translation im really worried. My home isnt in a good st
Into the us state of florida and is moving up its west coast bringing widespread coastal flooding, torrential rain and winds of about 120mph. Power supplies have been cut to more than three million homes and businesses. Several cities in the state have declared overnight cu rfews to prevent looting. The storm has been downgraded to a category 2. The streets of miamis Business District have been swamped by up to 3ft of water. 0ur correspondent Aleem Maqbool is there. They warned miami would flood, and it has. Irmas massive downpours and ocean surges combined to inundate the citys financial district. As thousands from the city hunkered down in hurricane shelters, others captured dramatic footage of the storm coming through. Probably the hardest it has been all day. Power lines being torn down. Oh my god . Lethal tornadoes being unleashed. A roof being torn off a home, a smashed crane, and water surging into town. More than a million homes and businesses are already without power. There i