Astonishing satellite images reveal islands stripped by Hurricane Irma

At least 37 people died in the Caribbean as a result of the storm.

ByABC News
September 11, 2017, 6:44 PM

— -- Satellite images taken before and after Hurricane Irma carved a path through the Caribbean detail the widespread damage from the storm.

At least 37 people in the Caribbean and at least seven in Florida died as a result of the hurricane, which had wind speeds up to 160 miles per hour when it made landfall in Cuba.

Here's a look at the aftermath of Hurricane Irma at some locations in the Caribbean:

US and British Virgin Islands

The widespread browning of the landscape across the U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands is pictured in two images taken just over two weeks apart, before and after Irma. According to NASA, the browning is caused either by the green vegetation being ripped away or saltwater being whipped up and killing leaves still on trees.

Barbuda

Homes just north of Codrington Airport are pictured in various states of disrepair after the storm passed through Barbuda, in the eastern Caribbean. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne compared the destruction on the island to "having a bomb literally thrown on a city."

Nanny Cay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Formerly lush vegetation near Nanny Cay on Tortola, the largest of the British Virgin Islands, was stripped and browned by the hurricane. Some boats docked at Nanny Cay Marina in the center of the image became unmoored.

Paraquita Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Paraquita Bay, on Tortola's southeastern coast, saw the destruction of several large structures on the left side of the image.

Necker Island, British Virgin Islands

Necker Island, owned by billionaire businessman Richard Branson in the British Virgin Islands, was directly hit by the hurricane. He tweeted Thursday that the area was "completely devastated."

Anse Marcel, St. Martin

The Anse Marcel Beach Resort and adjacent marina were extensively damaged by the hurricane. An island official told Agence France-Presse on Thursday that the island was "95 percent destroyed."

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