Fears for Britons caught up in Hurricane Irma devastation

A couple from the island of Tortola, who have not been heard from since Tuesday, were "most worried" about Hurricane Irma despite living there for 30 years and coping with many similar storms.

Britons Jackie Cameron, 58, and her husband David, who is in his 60s, "knew the hurricane was coming so they barricaded themselves in their home and had prepared food earlier," said Mrs Cameron's sister, Jill Chennell.

Ms Chennell, from south London, said: "They've lived in Tortola for 30 years. They've been through many hurricanes, but when we last spoke to Jackie she said she was most worried about this one."

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Michael and Julie Donovan have also not yet made contact after the hurricane hit.

Their 20-year-old daughter Mollee, who is a studying at Oxford Brookes University, says she is especially concerned because she thinks "the roof of their house has been blown off."

Julie was born in Britain, while her father was born in Tortola.

Kayley Smit, her husband Justin and their children Lily, seven and Rylan, five also lived on Tortola.

Mrs Smit's sister, Taryn Pile, had said she was going through a "very, very long and terrible waiting game."

Search coordinator Dan Perkins says he is "frantically" trying to contact people on the British Virgin Islands.

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"Even those people that have managed to check in as safe are dealing with appalling conditions...in properties whose roofs have been blown off, whose windows have been blown in," he added.

Hurricane Irma, a category four storm, has claimed at least 20 lives and caused "unprecedented carnage" in the Caribbean, having hit parts of the region with sustained winds of up to 185mph.

:: The Foreign Office emergency hotline number for people affected by Hurricane Irma is 020 7008 0000. You can see our special programme 'Hurricane: Path of Destruction' today on Sky News at 4.30pm, 6.30pm and 8.30pm.