Category 5 storm Irma makes landfall on Barbuda island in Caribbean

The storm is headed northwest toward the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Category 5 storm Irma made landfall on Wednesday on the island of Barbuda in the Caribbean. Such was the ferocity of the storm that wind speeds upto 295 km per hour were measured.

The storm is headed northwest toward the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, with potential for coastal storm surges of up to six meters above normal tide levels, a PTI report said.

The experts have warned that the Hurricane Irma could dump up to 25cm of rain, cause landslides and flash floods and generate waves of up to 7m.

US president Donald Trump has declared emergencies in Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

On Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said the Hurricane Irma was "potentially catastrophic" with the life-threatening wind, storm surge and rainfall hazards.

Earlier this week, officials across the northeastern Caribbean cancelled airline flights, shut down schools and urged people to remain indoors as the hurricane approached.States of emergency were declared in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and all of Florida while people on various Caribbean islands boarded up homes and rushed to find last- minute supplies, forming long lines outside supermarkets and gas stations.

OneIndia News with PTI inputs