Irma – precautions over the level 5 hurricane affecting the Caribbeans

Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association sends its sympathy for the tragic life losses after the aggressive hurricane.

 

The local tourism association has also warned locals and visitors to be cautious, as according to their data, the category 5 hurricane will move across the northern Caribbean with more than 180 miles per hour.

As Irma has already heavily affected St. Martin, St. Barts and Barbuda, with casualties and damages that are not yet fully known, the CHTA director general Frank Comito declared:

“We are extremely saddened to learn that we lost life during the past 24 hours and we stand with our Caribbean brothers and sisters at this time. We are keeping everyone in our thoughts and prayers, including family, friends and residents of Florida, which has declared a state of emergency. The Caribbean people are resilient and we are resolved to work with our partners to restore lives and communities.”

Hurricane warnings are no longer valid for Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Saba, St. Barthélemy, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Martin, and the US Virgin Islands, but all resorts in the affected areas now apply emergency protocols in order to keep the situation under control.

Southern, western Caribbean authorities as well as the CHTA have already expressed their support for all the affected regions.

The hurricane is currently on the move towards the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Turks&Caicos Islands and The Bahamas.

 

Update: the hurricane has meanwhile been downgraded to category one, as its 137km/h winds hit Florida, while its force devastated the Caribbean and killed 28 people. Emergency federal aid is currently available for Florida. 

 

Source: breakingtravelnews.com