Attempts by emergency services to reach Caribbean island communities devastated by Hurricane Irma could be hampered by a second major storm threatening the region.

According to the United Nations, up to 37 million people could be affected by the historic hurricane that has left at least 10 dead and thousands homeless.

Irma, a category-five hurricane, is expected to have passed over the Caribbean by Friday. However, Hurricane Jose could hit some of the same small islands in the northern Lesser Antilles ravaged by Irma, including Antigua and Barbuda as it follows a similar path of destruction.