The most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane recorded in history has made landfall on the islands of the north-east Caribbean.
The eye of Hurricane Irma passed over Barbuda at about midnight local time.
There, the storm ripped off the roof of the island’s police station, forcing officers to seek refuge in the nearby fire station and at a community centre serving as an official shelter.
It also knocked out communication between islands.
Hurricane Irma then slammed into the islands of Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin, causing major flooding in low-lying areas.
Heavy rain and howling winds hit the neighbouring island of Antigua, sending debris flying as people huddled in their homes or government shelters.
Hurricane Irma followed a path predicted to hit Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba before possibly heading for Florida over the weekend.
