11 September, 2017
"The secretary-general is saddened by the reports of enormous destruction and loss of life in the Caribbean region since Hurricane Irma made landfall on Antigua and Barbuda on Wednesday", said a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesman.
Irma's maximum sustained winds remain at 280 km/h with higher gusts making it a potentially catastrophic tropical cyclone. Experts say it will most likely remain a category 4 or 5 storm for the next two days.
Air Canada has said that additional flights went to Antigua and Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos to help get passenger home early while additional flights were being sent to the Dominican Republic and Florida.
The Montreal-based airline said late Tuesday it was sending 10 aircraft to the Caribbean nation - seven to Punta Cana, two to Puerto Plata and one to Samana. Officials say it's possible the record-breaking storm could hit Florida as well. Founded in 1846, AP has covered all the major news events of the past 165 years, providing high-quality, informed reporting of everything from wars and elections to championship games and royal weddings.
"They said they have more experience than any other airline, and they know this weather and it never hits Punta Cana".
"Cuba has perfected the art of hurricane preparedness by mobilizing local neighborhood organizations and the military to evacuate not only residents in the path of ongoing storms but their pets and their most prized possessions", said William LeoGrande, a professor of government at American University.
"From the center of operations that we have over here in San Juan, there is pretty significant damage already done", he said, citing wind gusts of more than 100 miles per hour.
The airline also implemented their hurricane policy for flights scheduled until September 11 for several destinations in Dominican Republic, Cuba and Haiti. Although Irma's future route remains uncertain, Cuban forecasters said models indicate it will pass along or near the northern coast of Cuba beginning Friday night.
WestJet, like Air Canada and Sunwing, say they've relaxed rules regarding flight changes due to the storm.
"We actually had to take matters into our own hands", she told CTV News Channel.
"Air Canada is reviewing capacity requirements and working with Air Canada Vacations to ensure we have sufficient capacity to bring our customers home safely", the airline said.
