Hurricane Irma has brought widespread devastation to parts of the Caribbean, leaving at least 20 people dead.
Now a Category 4 storm, it is expected to hit Florida by Sunday, after approaching Cuba’s north coast and central Bahamas.
A state of emergency has been declared in Puerto Rico and Florida, as well as Cuba, while relief efforts get under way in already-hit parts of the Caribbean.
President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Rick Scott have issued warnings to the state’s residents to evacuate as soon as possible, with the former tweeting: “Hurricane Irma is of epic proportion.”
Hurricane Irma is of epic proportion, perhaps bigger than we have ever seen. Be safe and get out of its way,if possible. Federal G is ready!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 8, 2017
S.FL- If you’re in an evacuation zone, LEAVE. @PortEverglades closes tonight & fuel can't be resupplied safely locally before Irma hits.
— Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) September 8, 2017
Here are some images showing how residents of the southern US state are preparing for potential destruction.
Volunteers help residents fill free sandbags in Miami
Workers shutter Mango’s Tropical Cafe in Miami Beach
A motorist carries sheets of plywood on top of a car as he leaves Home Depot, a home improvement store
A sign on the door of a business in Little Havana, Miami, announces it is closing “until the storm passes”
Jone Yoon, right, boards up his souvenir shop on Daytona beach, with help from employee Charles Llanton
A Royal Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, is being loaded with Department for International Development aid before being flown to affected areas
Soldiers book equipment in at the Joint Air Mounting Centre in South Cerney, Gloucestershire, ready to deploy to Operation Ruman as part of the UK’s response
St Johns County residents wait for the arrival of sandbags, as storm surges of up to 10ft are expected in some places
Sand is dumped along a Florida highway next to Flagler beach
