Hurricane Irma is just days away from a likely landfall in Florida after sowing destruction across the Caribbean.
The following are videos of the storm’s damage, which some analysts estimate could eventually cost $250 billion. The footage, taken by local residents and government agencies, shows fearsome winds, shattered homes, and massive flooding.
The Category 5 storm remains “extremely dangerous,” according to the National Hurricane Center. A possible landfall in southern Florida is forecast for Sunday, and residents there are already evacuating.
View from space:
NASA’s satellites captured Hurricane Irma’s steady path toward the Caribbean islands while another storm, Hurricane Katia, formed in the Gulf of Mexico and threatened the Mexican coast.
.@NASAEarth satellites observe #HurricaneIrma moving west, while other storms take shape in the Gulf of Mexico: https://t.co/kNxjpWdq4hpic.twitter.com/7H4wIaFd9I
— NASA (@NASA) September 7, 2017
Howling winds:
Hurricane Irma’s sustained winds of 185 miles per hour pummeled Puerto Rico. The trees in a hotel complex look like they are about to snap in this startling clip.
#retweet#HurricaneIrma#Jose and #Katia are also forecast to cause destruction https://t.co/ZcuRe7qv5X
— Pivonija (@pivonija) September 7, 2017
Little remains standing:
The following footage shows the devastating effect of Hurricane Irma on Tortola, the biggest of the British Virgin Islands. Debris is scattered across the roads and a now-desolate parking lot.
Https://twitter.com/mago6666/status/905900289210888192
Thankful to be alive:
A woman in the island of St. Martin describes how Hurricane Irma destroyed building roofs and toppled the trees in her neighborhood.
“My husband’s Jeep is total loss, total loss,” she says. “But what? We have life and we are grateful to God.”
Yoo I stayed here smh RT @sxeishorty: A lady giving her own account of what occurred in St Martin #HurricaneIrmapic.twitter.com/kgiCMB5fzQ
— ForeverDOON.com (@MoonManDoon) September 7, 2017
Devastating flooding:
This clip shows intense flooding in Puerto Rico from the Category 5 hurricane.
#HurricaneIrma
My home town bajo agua!! Pic.twitter.com/V2RxFveH80— Elie Omar (@OmarElie) September 7, 2017
Angry ocean:
A once, calm tropical beach in the Samana province of Dominican Republic becomes a roiling cauldron.
Fuerte vientos sacuden la provincia de Samana, por el paso de huracán Irma de categoría 5. @RedesFNP@BereniceLulo@drfermin@Carloselulopic.twitter.com/1e4TJTuZTK
— Domingo Mojica (@domingoborbon11) September 7, 2017
Calm in the eye of the storm:
NOAA researchers flew a small plane into Hurricane Irma’s eye to collect data about the storm. Extreme turbulence makes the small aircraft’s propellers look like they are struggling to turn. But once the airplane reaches the storm’s eye, the gusts are gone and all is calm in the air.
Flying into the eye of Hurricane Irma https://t.co/UjjYiCn0JI via @YouTube
— Tomasz Miluski (@tomekrvf) September 7, 2017