Hurricane Irma is devastating the Caribbean: Barbuda, St. Martin, and Anguilla have been hit so far

hurricane irma

Hurricane Irma, the most powerful Atlantic hurricane in recorded history, slammed several Caribbean islands with Category 5 storm winds early Wednesday, leaving a path of destruction that we're just beginning to to be able to see.

So far, Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Martin, and St. Barts have all taken direct hits from the storm.

Around 1:47 a.m. ET Wednesday, Irma first made landfall in Barbuda, a flat island with a population of approximately 1,600. Local weather stations captured wind gusts of 155 mph before going silent, indicating the instruments had been blown away — Irma's sustained winds have been reported at 185 mph, with gusts above 215 mph.

Phones lines were down and major damage has been reported. According to the Associated Press, winds tore the roof off the island's police station.

The eye of Category 5 monster Hurricane #Irma is about to engulf the small island of #Barbuda. Population ~1600. http://pic.twitter.com/gHQkw9qA1W
— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) September 6, 2017

By around 8 a.m. ET or shortly after, the eyewall of the storm reached Anguilla, St. Martin, and St. Barts, causing widespread severe damage, as photos and videos from those islands and others nearby show.

[IRMA] Saint Martin dans le mur de l'oeil subit les effets de l'ouragan IRMA #iram #ouragan #SaintMartin (Source : Rinsy Xieng) http://pic.twitter.com/e2j7e9KtOu
— RCI Guadeloupe (@RCI_GP) September 6, 2017

#SaintBarth lors du passage du Cyclone #Irma. http://pic.twitter.com/TAmRqJfz9v
— Guadeloupe 1ère (@guadeloupe_1ere) September 6, 2017

YIKES! Destruction & flooding seen this morning from Hurricane Irma in Saint Barthélemy. Photo credit: Carole Greaux. #Hurricane #Irma http://pic.twitter.com/pjgimSnWUW
— Mark Tarello (@mark_tarello) September 6, 2017

Irma a épargné la Guadeloupe mais ps ns compatriotes de St-barthelemy & de St-Martin durement éprouvés. Ns sommes à vs côtés#IrmaHurricane http://pic.twitter.com/vGmqQkl8Uy
— Olivier SERVA Député (@olivier_serva) September 6, 2017

Photos des rues de Gustavia à #SaintMartin après le passage du cyclone #irma http://pic.twitter.com/XBb4bKeQnR
— La1ere.fr (@la1ere) September 6, 2017

Hurricane Irma is currently headed towards Puerto Rico, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. There, the storm could directly hit San Juan, a city of 2.6 million people.

Radar out of #PuertoRico shows powerful Category 5 eyewall approaching... latest loops for #Irma at https://t.co/vWICHS7kHl @UMiamiRSMAS http://pic.twitter.com/2sTTb0LLIj
— Brian McNoldy (@BMcNoldy) September 6, 2017

After that, the latest forecast shows the storm potentially hitting South Florida or traveling up the east coast of the state, though still with a wide enough cone to affect both Florida coasts.

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