Irma leaves trail of ‘apocalyptic’ devastation across Caribbean

The aftermath of Hurricane Irma on Saint-Martin island in the Caribbean
The aftermath of Hurricane Irma on Saint-Martin island in the Caribbean
REUTERS

Hurricane Irma, the most powerful storm recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, has left “apocalyptic” damage across Caribbean islands, inundating coastal areas, devastating buildings with 185mph winds and killing at least ten people.

The storm made landfall on the island of Barbuda at 2am, wreaking terror on its population of about 2,000, then headed over the British overseas territory of Anguilla, Saint Martin, St Barts and on towards the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.

More than 90 per cent of Barbuda is said to have been destroyed. “Barbuda is literally rubble,” Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, said after visiting the island. “The entire housing stock was damaged. It is just total devastation.”

One person was reported killed on Anguilla, where Irma caused