Richard Branson says his Necker Island home has been 'utterly devastated' after emerging from his wine cellar to see houses and trees have disappeared.

The British billionaire retreated to his concrete bunker as the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic hit his Caribbean complex on Wednesday.

Speaking from a satellite phone, Mr Branson said this afternoon: 'I have never seen anything like this hurricane. Necker and the whole area have been completely and utterly devastated.

'We are still assessing the damage, but whole houses and trees have disappeared. Outside of the bunker, bathroom and bedroom doors and windows have flown 40 feet away.'

British billionaire Richard Branson enjoys a game of Perudo with staff as Hurricane Irma speeds towards his Necker Island home

The mogul said he was speaking from a phone that was 'just about working' and said all other communications are down.

He had a stark warning for those who have yet to experience the tropical storm.

He wrote: 'For those who are still in the path of Hurricane Irma, and Hurricane Jose to come, I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to put safety first and prepare as strongly as possible.

'Having seen first-hand the power of this storm, please ensure you stay inside, ideally in organised shelters or other solid concrete structures with water, supplies and emergency contact plans.'

Update: Sam Branson, son of British tycoon Richard, took to Instagram to update his followers on the damage done by Hurricane Irma

In a statement uploaded to Virgin's website this afternoon, Mr Branson wrote: 'It is a traumatic time here in the British Virgin Islands. Hurricane Irma is continuing a path of destruction that brought the eye of the storm to Necker Island, Moskito Island and the whole surrounding area.

'Sadly, casualties are being reported elsewhere in the Caribbean, along with horrific damage that is causing so much misery for the region’s wonderful communities. If you are in the BVI please let people know you are ok on FaceBook Safety Check. DDM and the Governor's Team are monitoring.

'Already we are hearing inspiring stories of extraordinary people helping each other to get through this awful situation. But the BVI is going to need major help to rebuild people’s homes, buildings, livelihoods.

'We will do whatever we can to support and assist our local community through this extremely testing time. If our really strong buildings sustained such damage, I am so worried for elsewhere in the BVI and Caribbean.

Branson said his whole staff slept together in two rooms, but the Virgin boss was happy to weather 'possibly the strongest storm ever' with a 'great group of young people'

A wind animation from 1pm local time showed Necker Island directly in the eye of Hurricane Irma

He said: 'Virgin Atlantic’s Antigua flight today was loaded with essential items to help the recovery effort, including blankets and bottled water, and we’ve helped ensure disaster management relief personnel can get to where they’re most needed.

'Virgin has made a donation to the British Red Cross to support the hurricane relief efforts, and we are awaiting more information about how else we can best support. I would urge everyone to donate to the British Red Cross through Virgin Money Giving (who are waiving their fees in support of the appeal) to help local communities.

'It is good to hear a British naval ship has been deployed with supplies and I would urge the government to send as much help as possible to support the British Virgin Islands.

'I know we are fortunate here on Necker and Moskito. Our wonderful team are fine. I know we will all band together and rebuild the islands to become stronger and even more wonderful than they were before.

'Thanks so much to everyone who has sent well wishes and support, it is greatly appreciated by all of the team.'

Yesterday: Sam Branson took to Instagram to tell his followers that he and his staff were safe in his bunker

Earlier today Sam Branson took to Instagram to tell his followers that his father and his staff were 'OK' - but stressed there had been 'lots of damage' to Necker and said one person was dead on the island of Tortola.

He wrote: 'No cell, power of wifi coverage in VG [The British Virgin Islands]', adding that the islands' capital Road Town is 'flooded with many roofs ripped off'.

Referring to his father, he wrote: 'Branson is ok on Necker, but lots of damage to the island'.

He also detailed massive damage across the British Virgin Islands, stressing that there was 'lots of debris' and urging people to remain cautious. He later posted a video of what he claimed was Tortola showing 'beyond tragic' damage.

Cane Garden Bay on Tortola island, he added, is '80 per cent destroyed'.

His message was similar to one written yesterday, when he explained: 'Glad to say that all humans on Necker are ok. Sad to say that most of the buildings have been destroyed and main house is 'uninhabitable'.

'Making me very concerned for our friends and everyone on the neighbouring islands and people in its path.

He said: 'Please don't take this hurricane lightly if it is heading your way. If your building is not very solid, do find somewhere safe! Homes can be rebuilt but lives can't. Nature warning us again of the impact of #climatechange

'We must all do more to combat this.'

The billionaire Virgin boss had already announced he wouldn't not leave his home on the British Virgin Islands despite Hurricane Irma - which is the size of France - threatening 'potentially catastrophic' as it lashes the Caribbean with 185mph winds.

Speaking of his experience on Tuesday night, Branson - who is staying with an entire team of staff on the island - said the 'howling wind and rain' battered his home and created an 'eerie but beautiful' atmosphere.

He wrote on his blog on Wednesday: 'We are expecting to get the full force of the hurricane in around five hours' time, when we will retreat to a concrete wine cellar under the Great House.

'Knowing our wonderful team as I do, I suspect there will be little wine left in the cellar when we all emerge.'

The tycoon's island is to the east of Puerto Rico and directly in the path of the hurricane

Storm coming: The most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane in recorded history made its first landfall in the islands of the northeast Caribbean early today, churning along a path pointing to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba before possibly heading for Florida over the weekend

He added: 'The strength of this hurricane is unheard of.

'Everyone is willing the eye of the storm to veer away from the BVI [British Virgin Islands] in these last few hours.

'As I wrote yesterday, our main concern is safety, for everyone here and for all the people in the BVI and in the path of the hurricane.

'All of us slept together in two rooms. I haven't had a sleepover quite like it since I was a kid.'

He said that, despite worries about the storm's severity, he considers it a 'privilege' to weather 'possibly the strongest storm ever' with a 'great group of young people'.

He said: 'We were listening to the parrots in their boxes in the next room chattering away. Watching the tortoises congregating together, as if they sense what is coming our way.'

It is unclear what exactly Branson did with the collection of exotic animals Necker Island is home to, but it is believed they are safe.

Sir Richard Branson's Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands will soon be hit by Hurricane Irma

The businessman also took the opportunity to discuss the need to support the Paris agreement on clean energy. Pictured: Necker Island

Paradise: Necker Island, which Richard Branson bought when he was just 28

Under threat: A host of celebrities with homes in the Caribbean could be holding their breath as Hurricane Irma wreaks havoc in the area

The island is home to a variety of animals, including more than 80 lemurs, hundreds of flamingos, red foot tortoises, exotic birds and almost extinct Anegada iguanas.

Branson's staff cares for the animals throughout the year, but it is unknown where they took shelter during the storm.

An official from Necker told TMZ, 'The animals are safe', without elaborating.

Branson is not the only notable figure with something to lose in the storm - a host of celebrities could see their homes wrecked by Hurricane Irma as it smashes into the Caribbean.

Mass evacuations are set to take place in the Florida Keys and the Caribbean after the hurricane - the size of France - was declared the most powerful storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean with 185mph winds.

On Wednesday morning, the 'potentially catastrophic' hurricane slammed into Barbuda just hours after officials warned people to seek protection from Irma's 'onslaught' in a statement that closed with: 'May God protect us all.'

Homes belonging to the likes of Johnny Depp, David Copperfield, Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger and even President Donald Trump could also be hit.

Social media images show how the hurricane lashed the coastline of Saint Martin overnight, with cars submerged in water

Huge metal objects were flipped over, buildings were flooded and people were left trapped in buildings as the hurricane struck on St Martin

Brute force: Hurricane Irma has wreaked havoc after pummeling exotic Caribbean islands with 185mph winds on its devastating march towards the US east coast. This was the scene on St Martin earlier today

Trees came crashing down on the tops of houses and roads were left under several feet of water after the storm passed

Hotels were flooded and cars submerged as floods hit coastal areas during hurricane-force winds on St Martin overnight

The eye of Irma, a Category 5 storm, passed over the northern Virgin Islands on Wednesday after crossing the half-French, half-Dutch island of St. Martin and the Dutch islands of Saba and Sint Eustasius.

Barreling through the Caribbean, the 'extremely dangerous' core of Irma was predicted to strike northern Haiti and the Dominican Republic as well as the Turks and Caicos and Bahamas on Thursday with winds of 185 miles per hour (295 km per hour), the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

The US National Weather Service said Puerto Rico had not seen a hurricane of Irma's magnitude since Hurricane San Felipe in 1928, which killed a total of 2,748 people in Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico and Florida.

'We have to prepare for the worst,' Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said. 'If we don't, it could be devastating.'

Puerto Rico's public power company has cut back on staff and maintenance amid a deep economic crisis and the agency's director warned that some areas could be without power from four to six months because the infrastructure has already deteriorated so badly.

Outages were reported in some neighborhoods well ahead of the storm, with more than 285,000 homes without power and nearly 4,500 people without water by mid-afternoon Wednesday.

Nearly 1,000 people were in shelters along with more than 100 pets.

Island retreat: Johnny Depp's Little Hall's Pond Cay in the Bahamas, which could be imperiled by Hurricane Irma

Bargain: Depp bought the island in 2004 for close to $3.6million

Alert: Authorities in the Bahamas said they would evacuate the residents of six islands at the southern end of the island chain. Pictured: Johnny Depp

Trump's mega mansion on the French island of St Martin could be under threat from the hurricane

Invested: Trump will be hoping to rescue his own property as well as help Americans at risk in the Caribbean and southern US

Trump is thought to value the property at about $50 million but it has recently been listed for $16.9 million

Irma will pass near or just north of the coast of the Dominican Republic Thursday, and be near the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas late Thursday, it added.

'Preparations should be rushed to completion in the hurricane warning area,' the NHC said.

President Trump's five-acre le Château des Palmiers estate on the French island of St Martin is one of many homes at risk from the hurricane.

Trump is thought to value the property at about $50 million but it has recently been listed for $16.9 million.

The 11-bedroom mansion features a tennis court and golden curtains.

Johnny Depp's 45-acre private island in the Bahamas, Little Hall's Pond Cay, could be at serious risk as authorities announce the beginning of evacuations.

He bought the island in 2004 for close to $3.6million.

Fellow actor and Bahamas island owner Eddie Murphy, meanwhile, could see his Rooster Cay home damaged.

Illusionist David Copperfield also owns Musha Cay in the Bahamas and could be fearing Irma's power.

Eddie Murphy, meanwhile, could see his Rooster Cay home damaged in the storm

Beautiful: Murphy's island as seen from above

Mick Jagger is believed to own property on Mustique - an island in St Vincent and the Grenadines - while Oprah Winfrey is understood to have a home on Antigua.

Bruce Willis and Keith Richards, meanwhile, have property on Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos.

And Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's $50million pad on St Barts - in Guadeloupe - is also in the hurricane's path.

The monster hurricane, the most powerful on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale, is packing maximum sustained winds of 185 miles per hour.

This is only the second time since satellites started tracking storms about 40 years ago that one maintained 185 mph winds for more than 24 hours, said Colorado State University meteorology professor Phil Klotzbach.

The other was the massive killer typhoon Haiyan that killed more than 6,000 people in the Philippines in 2013.

'It's a humdinger,' he said.

Illusionist David Copperfield owns an island in the Bahamas that could be struck by Irma

A general view of Villa Guru Resort at Musha Cay

'This thing is a buzzsaw; I'm glad Floridians are taking it very seriously,' Klotzbach said. 'This is going to be a bad storm. I don't see any way out of it.'

Schools and government offices in the French overseas territory have been ordered shut, while hospitals are stocking up on medicines, food and drinking water.

The regional authority for Guadeloupe and neighboring islands said in a statement on Wednesday that the fire station in Saint Barthelemy is under 1 meter (more than 3 feet) of water and no rescue vehicles can move.

It said the government headquarters Saint Martin is partially destroyed and the island is in a total blackout.

Electricity is also partially down on the larger island of Guadeloupe, where the threat receded despite danger of heavy flooding.

France sent emergency food and water rations to the French islands of Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy, where Irma ripped off roofs and knocked out all electricity.

Dutch marines who flew to three Dutch islands hammered by Irma reported extensive damage but no deaths or injuries.

While France received no immediate reports of casualties, the minister for French overseas territories, Annick Girardin, said: 'We have a lot to fear for a certain number of our compatriots who unfortunately didn't want to listen to the protection measures and go to more secure sites ... We're preparing for the worst.'

Roman Abramovich has a $50m home near Gouverneur Beach on St Barts (pictured). Two years ago the billionaire flew in the Black Eyed Peas for a lavish New Year's Eve party on the island

Abramovich is not thought to be on the island but Hurricane Irma is heading deeper into the Caribbean and could threaten his home

Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said his government was evacuating six islands because authorities would not be able to help anyone caught in the 'potentially catastrophic' wind, flooding and storm surge.

People there would be flown to Nassau in what he called the largest storm evacuation in the country's history.

The northern parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti could see 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain, with as much as 20 inches (50 centimeters) in the southeast Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.

The website cruisecritic.com said that 28 cruises had been canceled, shortened or had their itineraries changed as a result of the hurricane.

In addition to Irma, Tropical Storm Jose has now formed behind it in the open Atlantic far from land.

Jose is the 10th tropical storm of the season. It has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and is about 1505 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.

Also Wednesday, a new tropical storm formed in the Gulf of Mexico off Mexico's coast.

Satellite images show the hurricane moving towards Cuba, with a second tropical storm following behind

The storm was moving towards the west at 14 miles per hour, and is expected to drop between four and eight inches of rain when it hits land

Tropical Storm Katia had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) by the early afternoon and the hurricane center said it could become a hurricane before it approaches the coast of Veracruz state. Katia was located about 175 miles (280 kms) north of the city of Veracruz.

President Donald Trump this week approved an emergency declaration for the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

That means that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies can remove debris and give other services that will largely be paid for by the US government.

EPA officials said their biggest concerns were oil spills and power disruptions to water supply systems.

'No matter what precautions we take, the coastal flooding will impact oil tanks,' said Catherine McCabe, a regional administrator.

Another concern is the 20 Superfund sites in Puerto Rico and the three in the U.S. Virgin islands, given that most are near the coast, she said.

She said EPA officials in New Jersey are on standby to fly down after the hurricane passes through.