This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The category 5 Hurricane Irma has ripped through the Caribbean, causing deaths, flash foods and flattened landscapes.

Before and after images show the devastation that Irma has wrought on the British Virgin Islands and St Martin, including the Dutch half of the island called Sint Maarten.

Irma is expected to continue on to Cuba, where a hurricane warning is in place and tourists are being encouraged to leave, and it could reach Florida by late Saturday.

Casino Royale, Sint Maarten

Casino Royale, Sint Maarten Before image: Google Earth/Guy R

After image: Anna Mazur/AFP/Getty

Airport, St Martin

Airport Sint Maarten Before image: Google Earth

After image: Avalon.red

Paraquita Bay, British Virgin Islands

Paraquita Bay, British Virgin Islands Before image: Morrelli & Melvin Design and Engineering in Newport Beach

After image: Reuters

Sint Maarten port