Terror in Caribbean as Hurricane Irma strikes

‘Strongest Atlantic storm on record’ roars across regionOfficials call for evacuations as residents braced for damage

Half-submerged vehicles, boats and debris in the flooded harbour of Saint Martin. Photo: REUTERS

Nick Allen

Potentially catastrophic Hurricane Irma clobbered Caribbean islands with pounding winds, rain and surging surf yesterday as officials in Florida called for evacuations ahead of the storm's expected landfall there this weekend.

Irma could become the second powerful storm to thrash the US mainland in as many weeks, but its precise trajectory remained uncertain. Hurricane Harvey killed about 60 people and caused as much as $180bn (€151bn) in damage after hitting Texas late last month.