Devastating Irma takes aim at Florida

PUERTO RICO: Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in a century, howled past Puerto Rico yesterday after thrashing several smaller Caribbean islands with roofdestroying winds, drenching rains and pounding surf on a collision course with Florida.

At least four people were reported killed on four different islands by Irma, which weather forecasters have described as a ‘‘potentially catastrophic’’ Category 5 storm, the highest United States classification for hurricanes.

The dual-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda was es- pecially hard hit. The northernmost island, Barbuda, home to roughly 1800 people, was ‘‘totally demolished’’, with 90 per cent of all dwellings levelled and one person killed, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said.

A second storm-related fatality, that of a surfer, was reported on Barbados, and the French government said at least two people were killed in the Caribbean island territories of Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy.

Irma, with top sustained winds of 300kmh, is on track to reach Florida on Sunday or Monday, becoming the second major hurricane to hit the US mainland in as many weeks. While its intensity could fluctuate, and its precise course remains uncertain, the storm is expected to remain at least a Category 4 before arriving in Florida.

Two other hurricanes formed yesterday. Katia, in the Gulf of Mexico, posed no threat to the US, said US forecasters, but Jose, in the open Atlantic about 1600 kilometres east of the Lesser Antilles islands, could also eventually threaten the US mainland.

The flurry of severe storm activity comes after Hurricane Harvey claimed about 60 lives and pummelled the Gulf Coasts of Texas and Louisiana with torren- tial rains and severe flooding. Florida emergency management officials began evacuations days in advance of Irma’s arrival.

Acting National Hurricane Centre director Ed Rappaport called Irma a ‘‘once-in-a-generation storm’’.

On its current path, Irma was expected to scrape the northern coast of the Dominican Republic today.

Florida Governor Rick Scott said Irma could be more devastating than Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5 storm that struck the state in 1992 and still ranks as one of the costliest ever in the US.

- Reuters

Catalonia sets date for vote

Catalonia’s parliament has voted to hold an independence referendum on October 1, setting up a clash with the Spanish government, which has vowed to stop what it says would be an illegal vote. After 12 hours of often chaotic debate in the Barcelona parliament yesterday, a majority voted for the referendum and the legal framework to set up a new state, under which the assembly would declare independence within 48 hours of a ‘‘yes’’ vote. Polls in the northeastern region show support for self-rule waning as Spain’s economy improves, but the majority of Catalans want the opportunity to vote on whether to split from Spain. The government has asked the Spanish constitutional court to declare the referendum law void as soon as it is approved.

Manson follower paroled

A California board granted parole yesterday to Leslie Van Houten, who as a follower of cult leader Charles Manson took part in one of the most notorious murder sprees of the 20th century. It is the second straight year that Van Houten, 68, has been deemed suitable for parole, although California Governor Jerry Brown overturned last year’s decision, saying at the time she ‘‘poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison’’. Van Houten is serving a life sentence for stabbing to death Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in their Los Angeles home in August 1969. Yesterday’s decision starts a 150-day review process.

DNA disproves Dali claim

A paternity test has disproved a Spanish woman’s claim that she is the daughter of deceased surrealist artist Salvador Dali. The Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation said yesterday the Madrid court that ordered the DNA test had informed it that Maria Pilar Abel, a 61-year-old tarot card reader, had no biological relationship with Dali. Abel has long alleged that her mother had an affair with Dali and that she has a right to part of his vast estate. The foundation said it was happy the ‘‘absurd’’ claim had been resolved. The high-profile paternity claim led to the exhumation of Dali’s embalmed remains in July so genetic samples could be taken.