Islands that have been hit by Irma:
Antigua and Barbuda
Population: 90,800
Key facts: one of the Caribbean’s most prosperous nations, thanks to its tourism industry and offshore financial services
Hurricane report: Antigua reportedly escaped major damage, with no loss of life, but some 95% of structures on Barbuda were damaged or destroyed, the prime minister says, confirming at least one death
Saint Martin
Population: 75,000
Key facts: tourist destination celebrated for its beaches; divided between France, which calls its section Saint-Martin, and the Netherlands, which calls its part Sint-Maarten
Hurricane report: at least six people reported killed in Saint-Martin, according to the French interior minister. There has been serious damage to buildings, flooding, power cuts
St Barts (Saint Barthélemy)
Population: 9,200
Key facts: luxury tourist destination
Hurricane report: two reported killed; serious damage to buildings, flooding, power cuts
Anguilla
Population 13,500
Key facts: British overseas territory and upmarket tourist destination
Hurricane report: at least one dead; extent of damage as yet unknown
British Virgin Islands
Population: 20,600
Key facts: more than 40 islands and islets
Hurricane report: Irma passed over the northern islands
Puerto Rico
Population: 3.7 million
Key facts: a tourist destination but plagued by debt, poverty and high unemployment
Hurricane report: Irma passed close by; wide-spread power cuts; extent of damage not yet known
Islands still at risk from Irma:
Dominican Republic
Population: 10.2 million
Key facts: major tourist destination, shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti
Hurricane prediction: Irma expected to pass close by
Haiti
Population: 10.2 million
Key facts: on the same island as the Dominican Republic; devastated by an earthquake in 2010
Hurricane prediction: not directly in the hurricane’s path, but remains on alert
Turks and Caicos
Population: 31,500
Key facts: enjoys one of the more dynamic economies in the region thanks to upmarket tourism, offshore finance and fishing
Hurricane prediction: the low-lying region is at risk of a storm surge with destructive waves up to 6m (20ft) higher than usual possible
Cuba
Population: 11 million
Key facts: one of the world’s last planned economies; a producer of sugar, tobacco and coffee, with a big tourism industry
Hurricane prediction: Tropical storm conditions expected to begin on Thursday night (local time)
Bahamas
Population: 350,000
Key facts: an archipelago of more than 700 islands and islets, which attracts millions of tourists per year
Hurricane prediction: warnings for north-west, south-east and centre; some areas have risk of storm surge of up to 6m (20ft)
Are there more hurricanes to come?
Another storm, Jose, further out in the Atlantic behind Irma, swelled to category one hurricane strength and could be near major hurricane strength on Friday, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
Forecasters say Jose is expected to pass close to the Leeward islands, a collective name for islands from Dominica to Puerto Rico. Its exact path is as yet unclear but winds are not expected to be as strong. However, it may hit areas already devastated by Irma.
Storm Katia, in the Gulf of Mexico, was also upgraded to hurricane status, and a warning was in effect for the coast of the Mexican state of Veracruz.
Seeing multiple storms developing in the same area of the Atlantic in close succession is not uncommon at this time of year. Rarer though is the strength of the hurricanes.
Hurricane Harvey made landfall in the US as a category four less than two weeks ago. Irma is expected to be at category Irma when it arrives in the US.
There have never been two category four storms making landfall on the US mainland within the same season, since records began.
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