Some of the team resting before the storm hit Necker Island (Picture: Virgin.com)

Richard Branson’s son has posted to say that people staying on Necker Island are safe, but the buildings on the island have been destroyed.

Sam Branson posted on instagram from the luxury retreat in the British Virgin Islands as he warned others in the path of the storm to find safe shelter.

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Richard Branson was on the island and took everyone down into the wine cellar to sit out the storm as it destroyed the Great House above.

His son wrote: ‘Glad to say that all humans on Necker are ok although a lot of buildings destroyed ? Very concerned for our friends and everyone on the neighbouring islands and people in its path.




‘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.’

Playing perudo before trying to get some sleep last night (Picture: Virgin.com)

This morning Virgin issued a statement that said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the events that have taken place in the last 24 hours and our hearts and thoughts are with our friends and family in the Caribbean.

‘We are very grateful to be able to report that all of our team on Island have been accounted for as safe as well. Necker Island felt the effects of Hurricane Irma and sustained extensive damage, the extent of which we are still assessing.

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‘We’d like to thank all of you for your thoughts and would like to assure you that we will be keeping you along, with our family and friends, updated this week as we know more.

‘We will do whatever we can to support and assist our local community through this extremely testing time.’

Sam Branson, who is not believed to be on Necker but is in the British Virgin Islands, posted this footage on instagram today.

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Richard Branson posted updates from the island before it was destroyed.

The billionaire businessman described the atmosphere on the island as ‘eerie but beautiful’ as the record-breaking hurricane approaches his luxury retreat.

Before the hurricane hit he said that it was like a sleepover with all people on the island sleeping together in two rooms.

He said: ‘I haven’t had a sleepover quite like it since I was a kid. Strangely, it’s a privilege to experience what is turning into possibly the strongest storm ever with such a great group of young people.

‘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.’

He added: ‘Knowing our wonderful team as I do, I suspect there will be little wine left in the cellar when we all emerge.’

Earlier this week he revealed how he prepared for record-breaking Hurricane Irma as it heads towards his British Virgin Islands retreat of Necker Island.

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The storm this morning hit the tiny island of Barbuda and is thundering across the Caribbean with winds of around 200mph.

Writing on his blog, Branson said that they have a hurricane that hits Necker once every 10 years or so.



He said: ‘Fortunately, most of them drift north of us, but this one is coming straight for us, with the eye of the storm heading straight for Necker, Moskito Island and Virgin Gorda.

Richard Branson has been preparing his luxury home in Necker Island ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma (Picture: Virgin Limited Edition)

The building has hurricane blinds, but they’ve never faced a category 5 storm before (Picture: Virgin Limited Edition)

‘Obviously things can change – hopefully they do, as a category five hurricane hasn’t hit the [British Virgin Islands] BVI full on before.’

He said that Necker Island’s buildings are strong and they have hurricane blinds but they have never been tested with a category 5 hurricane.

He posted pictures showing the preparations they have made with all the garden furniture piled up in the main living quarters of his luxury retreat.

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Branson is also urging other islanders to go to shelter and prepare for a huge storm.

He wrote: ‘With the likelihood of a Category 5 hurricane, it is really important people go to hurricane shelters if possible (such as the Methodist Church and public community centres in Virgin Gorda).

‘Have a plan for where you can stay, have a go-bag with disaster supplies, and have a family emergency communication plan. Keep informed of the latest developments (we have been getting updates from the Government and BVI Tourist Board) and stay safe.

Richard Branson will ride out the storm at his luxury retreat in the British Virgin Islands (Picture: Virgin.com)

‘Whatever happens, keep inside, away from the ocean and away from flying debris.’

He’s also got his theory about why the hurricane is so powerful.

He wrote: ‘Man-made climate change is a key factor in the increasing intensity of these hurricanes, as many experts have suggested.

‘The damage caused by Harvey all over Texas is a tragic and costly reminder that our climate is changing and that we are not doing enough to tackle this enormous challenge.

‘If Irma is any indication, we must brace ourselves for more of these catastrophic weather events. How much cheaper and smarter to support the Paris Agreement and move to clean energy?’