The powerful hurricane is currently sweeping across eastern Cuba, unleashing life-threatening storm surges, flash flooding, landslides and destructive winds across the region this morning.

Neighbouring Haiti and the Dominican Republic are also bracing for impact, with forecasters warning of “catastrophic” flooding and landslides in several areas. Haiti, which is far less developed than its neighbour, is expected to suffer severe infrastructure damage and the isolation of entire communities as rivers overflow and roads are cut off.

Further north, the Bahamas are preparing for the storm’s arrival, with the southeastern and central islands forecast to face dangerous storm surges and hurricane-force winds later today. The Turks and Caicos Islands, lying to the east, are also under alert for tropical storm conditions and significant coastal flooding.

In Bermuda, roughly 1,000 miles away, officials have warned residents to prepare for hurricane conditions by tomorrow, as the storm continues its relentless track across the Atlantic.

Meanwhile, in Jamaica, where the hurricane left a trail of devastation just a day earlier, residents are being urged to remain sheltered amid widespread power outages, flooding, and continued heavy rainfall. Emergency services have warned that further storms and flash floods are likely throughout the day.