![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BIXHOHHPBR5Z7S74XKJABOERAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=4f14dbc6baa79f50128e0e8ed7756aba96a08aaabc2b4228b01565dadddcc8a0&width=400&height=225)
Employees of the Mercure Hotel in St Martin fill sand bags, as Hurricane Irma moves in. Lionel Chamoiseau / AFP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C77NBUBQ7JU4FEQV5CW6XBBKQM.jpg?smart=true&auth=181e118480c37c6826cc221d5d80e94eeff0015fb48e4eb595e8aa47f4d95fb8&width=400&height=225)
A view of the Baie Nettle beach in Marigot, with the wind blowing ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma. Lionel Chamoiseau / AFP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N6J4H2RFW3R7KDZ64XTWU34UIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=3d55f7be5f75ea0a0d7635e47431c242993484b0dcd10a4de3afea55f06c9204&width=400&height=225)
A couple watch the sunset as Hurricane Irma approaches Fajardo in Puerto Rico. Richard Arduengo / AFP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KWDB7GE5M5B7LGJHWP52M54UWA.jpg?smart=true&auth=392881800bae7e2a7fd639bfe016be159a3038bee9328f3542e9d7b0855c3ccc&width=400&height=225)
Hurricane Irma, a record Category 5 storm, is seen from GOES-16 satellite. Courtesy NOAA National Weather Service National Hurricane Center/Handout via Reuters
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Erik Budman prepares for Hurricane Irma in Key Largo, Florida. Alan Diaz / AP Photo
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Bonjour Food Market prepares for Hurricane Irma in Miami. Michele Eve Sandberg /
AFP Photo
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Queues build up at Costco in Miami as residents anticipate the arrival of Hurricane Irma. Michele Eve Sandberg/ AFP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O2VOQU36SQFICHRBUOXYNFSUYI.jpg?smart=true&auth=07b7080944f10648c0e4a8fa0d4b54bc8ece43d1fc56aaf998236ffbcb923a17&width=400&height=225)
Shoppers at Costco in Miami queued for up to eight hours for water and other essentials in preparation of Hurricane Irma. Michele Eve Sandberg/ AFP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BIXHOHHPBR5Z7S74XKJABOERAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=4f14dbc6baa79f50128e0e8ed7756aba96a08aaabc2b4228b01565dadddcc8a0&width=400&height=225)
Employees of the Mercure Hotel in St Martin fill sand bags, as Hurricane Irma moves in. Lionel Chamoiseau / AFP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C77NBUBQ7JU4FEQV5CW6XBBKQM.jpg?smart=true&auth=181e118480c37c6826cc221d5d80e94eeff0015fb48e4eb595e8aa47f4d95fb8&width=400&height=225)
A view of the Baie Nettle beach in Marigot, with the wind blowing ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma. Lionel Chamoiseau / AFP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N6J4H2RFW3R7KDZ64XTWU34UIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=3d55f7be5f75ea0a0d7635e47431c242993484b0dcd10a4de3afea55f06c9204&width=400&height=225)
A couple watch the sunset as Hurricane Irma approaches Fajardo in Puerto Rico. Richard Arduengo / AFP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KWDB7GE5M5B7LGJHWP52M54UWA.jpg?smart=true&auth=392881800bae7e2a7fd639bfe016be159a3038bee9328f3542e9d7b0855c3ccc&width=400&height=225)
Hurricane Irma, a record Category 5 storm, is seen from GOES-16 satellite. Courtesy NOAA National Weather Service National Hurricane Center/Handout via Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z5TJGCIKBQ6ZYNRRX554356ZXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=b050b3bd9e8988e8fd51a2810baca4a2c4638901ac02f92f806f096dd9380323&width=400&height=225)
Erik Budman prepares for Hurricane Irma in Key Largo, Florida. Alan Diaz / AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HWAH56CZB3UELAWPMCTE5EKLFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=acd92b853dcb80087c7fc6bfdc5991ef9cfb1f5dbb42aa4e5223a5e6c0c1b4d0&width=400&height=225)
Bonjour Food Market prepares for Hurricane Irma in Miami. Michele Eve Sandberg /
AFP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VVZIPUVNTZDYLWNC5F6QY6G4LQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=774b80754d07fc3f7e7a8d541c08f7c5179983a4178a99a00e06b6dc293cd71a&width=400&height=225)
Queues build up at Costco in Miami as residents anticipate the arrival of Hurricane Irma. Michele Eve Sandberg/ AFP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O2VOQU36SQFICHRBUOXYNFSUYI.jpg?smart=true&auth=07b7080944f10648c0e4a8fa0d4b54bc8ece43d1fc56aaf998236ffbcb923a17&width=400&height=225)
Shoppers at Costco in Miami queued for up to eight hours for water and other essentials in preparation of Hurricane Irma. Michele Eve Sandberg/ AFP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BIXHOHHPBR5Z7S74XKJABOERAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=4f14dbc6baa79f50128e0e8ed7756aba96a08aaabc2b4228b01565dadddcc8a0&width=400&height=225)
Employees of the Mercure Hotel in St Martin fill sand bags, as Hurricane Irma moves in. Lionel Chamoiseau / AFP Photo
Florida prepares for powerful Hurricane Irma
The Category 5 hurricane is set to strike the popular holiday destinations of Saint Martin and Saint-Barthelemy, with the French weather service warning of 12-metre swells and 'extremely violent floods along the shore'
Reuters
Agence France Presse
06 September, 2017
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