The storm is headed northwest toward the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico (Reuters)
Powerful Hurricane Irma made landfall early Wednesday on the island of Barbuda as it barreled its way across the Caribbean, the US National Hurricane Center said.
The eye of the rare Category Five storm passed over Barbuda around 2 am (0600 GMT) packing winds gusting at up to 185 mph (295 kph), the center said.
The storm is headed northwest toward the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, with potential for coastal storm surges of up to 20 feet (six meters) above normal tide levels, it added.
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