Hurricane Irma bears down on Turks and Caicos islands

Poverty-stricken Haiti is seen as particularly vulnerable as its infrastructure has yet to recover from a devastating earthquake in 2010.

Low-lying Turks and Caicos is said to be at risk of a storm surge, with the possibility of destructive waves up to 6m (20ft) higher than usual.

Irma is a category five hurricane.

This is the highest possible level for a hurricane, and its winds are travelling at up to 185mph (290km/h). At least 14 people have already died in the region, and officials warn that the toll is likely to rise.

An estimated 1.2 million people have been affected by Irma and that could rise sharply to 26 million, the Red Cross says.

There are concerns that disease could spread rapidly in areas where drinking water and sanitation services have broken down.

What's next in Irma's path?

Irma has passed the Dominican Republic and is now brushing Haiti. It is expected to hit the the Turks and Caicos on Thursday evening.

The storm is predicted to reach Cuba next, before hitting the US state of Florida at the weekend, with the head of the US emergency agency predicting a "truly devastating" impact.

The storm caused some damage to building and flooding as it approached Haiti, with rain and wind lashing the northern port city of Cap-Haitien.

"We're asking all those living in areas at risk to leave their homes. If you don't, you'll be evacuated by force," President Jovenel Moise said.

Preparations for the arrival of Irma are carrying on in the Turks and Caicos, which has a population of about 35,000. Its highest point is only 50m (163ft).

Governor John Freeman said: "We have decided to evacuate certain islands which were particularly low-lying and at threat. We have started to fill our shelters because a number of people who live in very low-lying areas are very vulnerable."

Virginia Clerveaux, director of the Turks and Caicos Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies, told the BBC that even inland areas could be inundated by the storm surge.

"We are now trying to remind them [the people of the islands] that this is a category five, and in the history of the Turks and Caicos islands this is the largest storm we have ever been impacted or threatened by."

Britain, France, and the Netherlands have sent ships, rescue teams and emergency supplies to their territories that have been hit by Hurricane Irma.

Aid efforts are being hampered by damage to local airports and harbours.

Which areas have been hit?

• Barbuda: the small island is said to be "barely habitable", with 95% of the buildings damaged. Prime Minister Gaston Browne estimates reconstruction will cost $100m (£80m). One death has been confirmed
• St Martin: the island that comprises the French territory of Saint-Martin and the Dutch section Sint-Maarten suffered terrible damage. Five people have been killed
• Puerto Rico: more than 6,000 residents of the US territory are in shelters and many more without power. At least three people have died
• US Virgin Islands: damage to infrastructure was said to be widespread, with four deaths confirmed
• Anguilla: one resident said the island, a British overseas territory, looked as if it had been struck by a nuclear bomb. One person has died
• British Virgin Islands: a state of emergency has been declared and fatalities are expected

What the US can expect

Irma is expected to hit Florida as a category four hurricane on Sunday, bringing storm surges and flooding.

"If you look at the size of this storm, it's huge," Florida Governor Rick Scott said on Thursday. "It's wider than our entire state and could cause major and life-threatening impacts on both coasts - coast to coast."

US President Donald Trump said: "I can say this: Florida is as well prepared as you can be for something like this. Now it's just a question of what happens."

• How do you calculate the cost of a hurricane?

Evacuations of tourists and residents of the Florida Keys, a resort archipelago, have begun.

Flights to and from airports in Florida are being suspended. Orlando's international airport said commercial flights would stop from 17:00 local time on Saturday.

Islands still at risk from Irma

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 still vulnerable

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, has been upgraded to category three strength, and could pass close to many areas already hit by the severe weather.

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.

[BBC SOURCES]