Update 2 - Caribbean: Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma first made landfall on the northeast Caribbean islands during the early hours local time of 6 September. Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, St Barthélemy, St. Martin, Sint Maarten, Turks and Caicos, and the US Virgin Islands were all affected. 169,000 people and 75,000 buildings were exposed to wind speeds higher than 252km/h. 5.5 million people lived in areas exposed to winds in excess of 120km/h.  At least 37 people have been reported dead. 

A new Category 5 Hurricane Maria is moving roughly over the same path as Hurricane Irma. It is expected to affect Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat and the US and British Virgin Islands. Communities have been advised to take shelter. States of emergency have been declared in number of locations.