Hurricane Irma's death toll rises as it tears through Caribbean

Rescue staff from the Municipal Emergency Management Agency investigate an empty flooded car during the passage of Hurricane Irma through the northeastern part of the island in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017 (Carlos Giusti / AP)

Alayna Treene 2 hrs ago

Hurricane Irma, one of the strongest storms to ever form in the Atlantic, is continuing to tear through the Caribbean as a Category 5 storm, having already devastated several islands, including Barbuda, St. Martin, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Under the current forecast, the core of the storm, which has maintained its intensity with winds above 180 mph, is expected to hit Florida and the Southeast U.S. on Sunday.

The death toll, by the numbers: Irma has killed at least 10 people, officials said. Meanwhile, the UN estimates that up to 37 million people across different countries, states, and territories could be affected.

The other two active hurricanes in the Atlantic: Hurricane Jose strengthened into a Category 2 storm Thursday afternoon, and is heading toward the same islands already hit by Irma. Meanwhile Hurricane Katia is building momentum in the Gulf of Mexico.

Islands already hit by Irma: Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Saint Martin, St Barts, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico.

Places still at risk: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Turks and Caicos, Cuba, Bahamas, Florida and the Southeast U.S.

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https://www.axios.com/hurricane-irma-tears-through-the-caribbean-as-death-toll-rises-to-10-2482481581.html