MOSCOW (Sputnik) — At least 8 people were killed and 23 others were injured on two French islands as a result of Hurricane Irma, French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said Thursday.
Hurricane Irma "has claimed lives of eight people and wounded 23 others" on the French islands of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthelemy, the French interior minister was quoted as saying by France Info radio broadcaster.
Looks like tiny Saint Barthélemy (St. Barts) wasn't spared either. Was in path of Hurricane Irma between Barbuda & Saint Martin. https://t.co/WVDsk4kn0P
— Benjamin Lord (@benjalord) September 6, 2017
Minister Colomb added that the death toll might increase.
#Irma eye calm over Saint Barthélemy now. Saint Martin next in line to get the eye pic.twitter.com/BdIO7cz1gO
— XWF WEATHER (@WeatherXwf) September 6, 2017
The Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten has been battered by the Irma hurricane making local airport unreachable, the Dutch navy said Thursday.
Airport St. Martin unreachable at the moment. High priority for the delivery of help and supplies. #Irma pic.twitter.com/7I8Qqmauvj
— Koninklijke Marine (@kon_marine) September 7, 2017
— Koninklijke Marine (@kon_marine) September 7, 2017
The navy added that St. Maarten has been "heavilly struck by #Irma" and that infrastructure should be rebuild quickly so that aid could be delivered.