* Category five superstorm hits Turks and Caicos Islands * At least 13 people confirmed dead across Caribbean * Irma’s destruction: island by island * Where is Irma heading? Mapping the path 7.02am BST On an official visit to Greece, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, was repeatedly forced to defend his decision to defer a trip to St Martin and other islands devastated by the storm. Addressing reporters in Athens where he was conducting his first overseas visit, the French leader said he had decided to go ahead with the two-day trip to Greece, rather than attempt to head to the Caribbean, because prevailing weather conditions would not have permitted him to fly to French territories hit by Hurricane Irma. 6.53am BST The latest advisory from the US National Hurricane Center confirms Irma is passing north of the Bahamas’ Great Inagua island, with wind speeds now of 160mph (260kph) – down from its 185mph peak but still a category five hurricane. Hurricane warnings remain in effect for: Continue reading...
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