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Caribbean braced for hurricane
A hurricane warning has been issued for the north-east Caribbean, including many popular holiday islands.
St Lucia, the Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Martinique, St Vincent and the Grenadines are in the path of hurricane Irma.
The Foreign Office said it was likely to bring hazardous sea and weather conditions from around Wednesday September 6.
It told UK visitors to follow the advice of the local authorities and any evacuation orders.
St Kitts deputy prime minister Shawn Richards told residents Irma is projected to hit the island in the early morning of Wednesday, with wind speeds of 125 mph.
On Sunday evening Irma was a Category 3 hurricane, according to weather experts, with winds of 115 mph. It is expected to pick up strength over the next 48 hours, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
More warnings could come later today for the British and US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, while Florida is watching the hurricane’s progress.
The NHC said: "Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area by Tuesday night, with tropical storm conditions possible by late Tuesday.
"Irma is expected to impact the northeastern Leeward Islands by the middle of this week as a major hurricane, accompanied by dangerous wind, storm surge, and rainfall impacts, along with rough surf and rip currents."
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Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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