Guadeloupe: Island on red alert for Hurricane Irma September 6

Event

A red alert warning is in effect on the island of Guadeloupe as of 02:00 (local time), Wednesday, September 6, in anticipation of Hurricane Irma. According to local authorities, Irma is progressively moving away from the island, but adverse weather conditions are still expected.

Strong swells have been reported in the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 6, in the northeast of the island and along the Caribbean coast, which may cause flooding and landslides - forcing the evacuation of low-lying or cliff-edge areas to shelters. Winds up to 80 to 100 km/h (49 to 62 mph) have also been reported and heavy rainfall is expected to hit the island in the upcoming days.

As a result, schools and both public and private establishments have been asked to remain closed throughout Wednesday. All public transportation has been suspended and Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (PTP) has been closed until further notice.

Context

Hurricane Irma strengthened into a Category 5 storm on Tuesday, September 5, north of the Lesser Antilles. It became the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic basin (outside of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico) on record as of Tuesday morning, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). Irma is currently over the Caribbean and made landfall in Barbuda, an island of 1600 residents, between 01:00 and 02:00 (local time) on Wednesday, September 6.

Hurricane Irma is expected to hit numerous islands in the Caribbean as it continues its path from the Antilles up to the United States. Hurricane warnings are currently in place for the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, Saba, St. Eustatius, Sint Maarten, St. Martin, St. Barthélemy, Vieques, and Culebra. There is also a tropical storm warning in effect for Dominica and the southern coast of the Dominican Republic, and a hurricane watch in effect for the northern coast of Haiti, Turks and Caicos, the southeastern Bahamas, and Cuba (from Matanzas Province to Guantanamo Province).

Advice

Individuals present in Guadeloupe are advised to keep abreast of weather alerts, confirm travel reservations, avoid coastal and mountainous areas (risk of flooding and landslides), and adhere to all advice issued by the local authorities.

Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous; 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult. Finally, because floodwater may also contain wastewater or chemical products, wear boots and try to avoid any contact with the water. All items having come into contact with the water should be washed and disinfected. Dispose of any food that may have come into contact with floodwater.