Nine dead as Hurricane Irma rips through Caribbean

The heavy rains and wind of hurricane Irma cross through the northeastern part of the island in Fajardo. (AP Photo)

Powerful Hurricane Irma cut a swathe of deadly destruction as it roared through the Caribbean, claiming at least nine lives and turning the tropical islands of Barbuda and St Martin into mountains of rubble. 

One of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record, the rare Category Five hurricane churned westward off the northern coast of Puerto Rico early morning on a potential collision course with south Florida where at-risk areas were evacuated.