Hurricane Irma Slams Into Caribbean Amid Mas Evacuation (Photos)

Paradise lost: Brute force of 185mph Hurricane Irma wreaks havoc as it tramples exotic Caribbean islands on its devastating march towards the US east coast....
Hurricane Irma has wreaked havoc after pummeling exotic Caribbean islands with 185mph winds on its devastating march towards the US east coast.

Aid agencies are bracing for a 'major humanitarian response' as the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic made its first landfall.

Buildings have been destroyed, roads flooded and people left trapped after the 'monster' storm - estimated to be the size of France - lashed the region just hours after officials warned people to seek protection from Irma's 'onslaught' in a statement that closed with: 'May God protect us all.'

Heavy rain and howling winds from the hurricane also raked Antigua, sending debris flying as people huddled in their homes or public shelters.

French officials said Saint-Barthelemy and Saint-Martin have been 'battered extremely violently' with even sturdy government buildings destroyed. Emergency food and water rations are being sent to the islands.

U.S. President Donald Trump declared emergencies in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and authorities in the Bahamas said they would evacuate the residents of six islands at the southern end of the island chain amid fears the hurricane is hurtling towards the US east coast. A mandatory evacuation is under way in the Florida Keys.

Experts say Irma is now so powerful it is registering on devices designed to detect earthquakes. Scientists picked up the background noise of winds causing trees to move and crashing ocean waves on their earthquake-detecting seismometers.

In addition to Irma, Tropical Storm Jose has now formed behind it in the open Atlantic and is expected to develop into a hurricane. A third tropical storm - Katia - has also formed in the Gulf of Mexico with winds but is expected to stay offshore until Friday morning.

The Red Cross this morning said it is preparing for 'a major humanitarian response'.

'The forecast as it stands right now is extremely worrying,' said Walter Cotte, the agency's Regional Director for the Americas. 'We are anticipating major impacts on a number of islands, and we are preparing to respond to needs that may arise.

'We are especially worried that Irma could affect areas that have been suffering with severe rainfall in the past months.

'One of the main challenges is going to be logistical, given the isolation of some the islands. We need to ensure a reliable channel for relief efforts in the aftermath of the hurricane.'

Four other storms have had winds that strong in the overall Atlantic region, but they have been in the Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico where the usually warmer waters fuel tropical cyclones.

Experts say Irma's strength is a result of unusually warm water for that part of the Atlantic.

The center said there was a growing possibility that the storm's effects could be felt in Florida later this week and over the weekend, though it was still too early to be sure of its future track: 'Everyone in hurricane-prone areas should ensure that they have their hurricane plan in place.'

So far, a state of emergency has been called in the state and a mandatory evacuation is under way in the Florida Keys. Schools there are also cancelled until further notice.

Governor Rick Scott activated 100 members of the Florida National Guard to be deployed across the state, and 7,000 more National Guard members were to report for duty on Friday when the storm could be approaching.