Canadian airlines Air Transat and WestJet have sent planes to evacuate travellers from Dominican Republic as well as Turks and Caicos ahead of Hurricane Irma. Montreal-based Air Transat says it is sending aircraft to the Dominican Republic — seven to Punta Cana, two to Puerto Plata and one to Samana. Hurricane Irma, considered the most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane in recorded history, made landfall in the northeast Caribbean overnight. The storm is following a path predicted to then rake Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba before possibly heading for Florida. Members of the country's civil defence force prepare their gear ahead of Hurricane Irma, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Source: CBC News September 06, 2017 05:41 UTC