The agency had issued its highest warning, saying the Category 4 Hurricane Jose could become a "dangerous event of exceptional intensity". "I'm relieved, almost happy," said Saint Martin resident Donald Tchuisseu, plastic glass of gin in hand after toasting Jose's mercy with a friend. The new hurricane was 125 kilometres from Saint Martin, 95 percent of which has already been ravaged by Hurricane Irma, which struck Wednesday and is expected to reach Florida at 1000 GMT Sunday. Hurricane Irma killed 12 people on the two islands while flattening thousands of buildings and leaving authorities struggling to control looting. Officials said they would begin distributing food rations and water after Hurricane Jose had passed.

Source: The Local September 10, 2017 09:22 UTC