Earl has strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane A storm moving through the eastern Caribbean has strengthened to a category two hurricane, prompting warnings for several islands.
Hurricane Earl is generating sustained winds of 160km/h (100mph).
Forecasters say it could develop into a major hurricane later on Monday, as it approaches the Leeward Islands, which include the British Virgin Islands.
Strong winds and heavy rains are already lashing the islands, east of Puerto Rico in the northern Caribbean.
Hurricane warnings are in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy, St Maarten, Saba, St Eustatius, the British Virgin Islands and the US Virgin Islands.
People in the area are making preparations ahead of the storm, stocking up on food, water and other essential supplies, as well as trying to protect property.
“We really don’t want any loss of life, whether by persons who are careless or by security or emergency persons trying to rescue people,” Carl Herbert, head of the St Kitts and Nevis local emergency management agency, is quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.
“We haven’t been hit for quite a few years, but you may never know – this might be the time,” said Ashley Benta, from the Antiguan town of Gray’s Farm.
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