Hurricane Irma destroyed an island in the Caribbean. VIDEO

Photo: twitter / Cowboy Kal @RightWingLawman

The tiny Caribbean island of Barbuda is "practically uninhabitable" after it was at the center of Hurricane Irma, officials said.

Barbuda's Prime Minister and Antigua Gaston Brown reported that 90 percent of the buildings on Barbuda were destroyed by a hurricane with steady winds 297 km (185 miles) per hour after it reached land in 1: 47 am Wednesday.

“Barbuda as it stands is virtually uninhabitable,” Brown told the Antigua/Barbuda Broadcasting Service, adding that the destruction on the island has left nearly 1700 people homeless.

Photo: twitter / Cowboy Kal @RightWingLawman

“A significant number of houses are completely destroyed,” said his chief of staff, Lionel Hirst.

One person died.

#HurricaneIrma #Barbuda

For anyone in Florida who's thinking about hunkering down, please don't. pic.twitter.com/dfMSphJ1f1

— UnsilentMajority? (@The_UnSilent_) September 7, 2017

At the beginning of Wednesday, Brown published a fairly optimistic announcement on behalf of the affected Antigua, which is home to about 80 000 people.

“It is clear that Antigua and Barbuda has passed the test,” he wrote in a message posted on Facebook.

However, his opinion changed after he flew to look at the damage on a neighboring island. Barbuda, which is only 48 km north of Antigua.

“I never imagined we could have such a contrast,” he said of the destruction.

Brown added that he will evacuate both islands if hurricane José, who is gaining strength in the Atlantic, will be sent to them.

Details about the movement of the hurricane, photos, videos from the territories to which Irma has already fallen, forecasts and recommendations on how to prepare for the coming of the elements, read our material "Hurricane Irma: data, forecasts, how to prepare. Constantly updated«.

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