By Victoria Craw
Hurricane Irma has slammed into the Caribbean islands, sending water roaring through streets and forcing locals to bunker down as it charts a course towards Puerto Rico and Florida.
The category five monster is the strongest Atlantic storm recorded in more than a decade and battered Antigua, St Martin and Barbuda on Wednesday with winds up to 295km an hour.
No casualties have been recorded, however footage on social media showed homes underwater and strong winds whipping islands.
It's so powerful the storm has registered as seismic activity on some instruments and packs more power than this year's previous eight storms combined, according to a US scientist.
The US National Hurricane Centre warned the "potentially catastrophic" hurricane will bring "life-threatening wind, storm surge and rainfall hazards" to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Emergency warnings are in effect across the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos with Cuba and Florida likely to be hit later in the week.
IT COMES AS:
• The Governor of the British Virgin Islands ordered a 36-hour curfew for residents.
• Emergency evacuations were ordered for six islands in the Bahamas and are expected in the Florida Keys.
• The White House declared a state of emergency in Florida, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
• President Trump said it "looks like it could be something that will be not good. Believe me, not good."
• Billionaire Richard Branson was holed up on his private home on Necker Island.
• Hotels issued warnings to guests who described "apocalyptic" noises.
• Storm surges six metres above normal tide levels are expected.
• Puerto Rico residents prepare to be without electricity for four-six months.
• Colorado State University professor Phil Klotzbach warns "the Leeward Islands are going to get destroyed."
• Tropical storm Jose is expected to become a hurricane in 36-48 hours.
'MAY GOD PROTECT US ALL'
The Red Cross said it is bracing for a "major humanitarian response" to the storm made worse by the severe rainfall and isolation of the islands.
The agency's regional director Walter Cottee said: "We are anticipating major impacts on a number of islands, and we are preparing to respond to needs that may arise."
"One of the main challenges is going to be logistical, given the isolation of some the islands. We need to ensure a reliable channel for relief efforts in the aftermath of the hurricane."
France's minister for overseas territories, Annick Girardin, said the office had likely underestimated the storm's power as it hurtled towards the French-run territory of St Barths. It has already "blown the roofs" off buildings and is expected to hit the larger French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Antigua resident Kazia phoned a local radio station to say she was "praying to God" while being hunkered down with no power. Visitors to the island were turned away from the closed airport on Tuesday with the words: "May God protect us all."
London PR expert Alex Woolfall, who specialises in crisis management, tweeted that he could hear "thunderous sonic boom noises outside" from his hotel in St Martin.
CARE Australia's emergency teams said they were working to prepare clean drinking water, food supplies and shelter for residents in Haiti which is still recovering from Hurricane Matthew one year ago.
Country director Karl Paul said it could be a "monster" storm when Irma hits on Thursday.
"Irma's biggest threat is flooding and mudslides in addition to damage from the hurricane's heavy winds and rain. We're also concerned the anticipated flooding could contaminate the water supplies," he said.
Video and images posted on social media show the strength of the storm as it moves across the Caribbean and towards the Gulf of Mexico.
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BRANSON 'RETREATS TO WINE CELLAR'
Virgin boss Richard Branson wrote from his private Necker Island resort that the atmosphere was "eerie but beautiful" as he waited for the storm to hit.
"All of us slept together in two rooms. I haven't had a sleepover quite like it since I was a kid. Strangely, it's a privilege to experience what is turning into possibly the strongest storm ever with such a great group of young people," he wrote.
"We were listening to the parrots in their boxes in the next room chattering away.
Watching the tortoises congregating together, as if they sense what is coming our way."
"We are expecting to get the full force of the hurricane in around five hours' time, when we will retreat to a concrete wine cellar under the Great House. Knowing our wonderful team as I do, I suspect there will be little wine left in the cellar when we all emerge."
'NO REST FOR THE WEARY'
In Florida residents endured eight-hour waits to stock up on bottled water and many bought supplies to reinforce their homes and businesses. Lines at petrol stations were 50 cars long in Fort Lauderdale with workers running out of petrol in some places.
President Trump said his team was watching the Hurricane closely following the destruction from Hurricane Harvey that hit Texas and Louisiana last week.
"No rest for the weary!" he wrote on Twitter as the House of Representatives votes on a US$7.9 billion relief bill for Harvey.
He later said the hurricane "looks like it could be something that will be not good. Believe me, not good."
Florida Governor Rick Scott urged people to stock up on supplies, register to volunteer and not be complacent during the storm.
The strength of the hurricane is partly due to the fact that water in the area was 1.8 degrees warmer than normal, according to Jeff Masters, meteorology director of the private forecasting service Weather Underground.
He said hurricanes need water around 26 degrees to form and that was currently about 80 metres deep.
