Rescue operations launched as Hurricane Irma continues to batter Florida

damage Credit: St Johns County Fire and Rescue
  • Video report by ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore

Hurricane Irma is continuing to ravage mainland Florida, with winds up to 100mph and flood waters overwhelming areas.

Irma, described by President Donald Trump as a "monster", continues to dump torrential rain on the Sunshine State.

Nearly six million homes were left without power on Monday, despite Irma having been downgraded from a category five hurricane to a tropical storm.

It first made landfall on the Florida Keys - a string of islands off the state - after wreaking destruction across several Caribbean islands.

Some 34 people are believed to have been killed across the entire region because of Irma so far.

Parts of Tampa Bay, whose mayor warned that the storm was about to punch it "in the face", remain under curfew as Irma heads north.

  • Millions of homes without power

Officials estimate that 5.8 million homes in Florida have been left without power since Irma made landfall on Sunday.

It is now creeping up the west coast and heading towards neighbouring Georgia.

Power losses in Georgia have already surpassed 150,000.

Nearly 6.3 million people in Florida were ordered to evacuate as Irma brought widespread flooding.

Three road traffic deaths, reportedly connected to Irma, have occurred, US officials say.

This included a sheriff's deputy.

A UK citizen living in Florida claimed she was struck by a washing machine as her house was battered by high winds.

Sarah Penney, 33, said she was saved by a friend after the appliance was lifted from the ground.

  • Clean-up operations begin in Caribbean

Clean-up operations have begun across the Caribbean. Credit: AP

Clean-up operations are already underway across the Caribbean as officials struggle to get aid to areas devastated by Irma.

Cuba's northern coast was battered, with the country reporting that 10 people had been killed - mainly in the capital Havana.

International aid is being sent to several Caribbean islands, many of which witnessed complete destruction.

To the east, in the Leeward Islands, residents have reported shortages of food, water and medicine, and many have complained of looting.

  • British response criticised

Three British overseas territories were ravaged by Irma.

The British government has been forced to defend its response to the catastrophe as it continued sending aid to the Turks and Caicos islands, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

Downing Street was criticised for not doing enough to help stranded British citizens on the overseas territories.

Both Boris Johnson and Priti Patel defended the government, slamming counter-claims as "completely unjustified" and "wrong" on Monday.

It came as Britain sent a navy ship and almost 500 troops to help.

  • US recovery to cost 'a lot of money'

Gilbert's Resort in Key Largo, Florida, underwater. Credit: AP

Donald Trump has warned the clean-up operation will cost the country "a lot of money".

He suggested Florida "may have been a little bit lucky" as Irma was downgraded when it hit.

Trump said the aftermath might not have been "quite as destructive" as anticipated.

Hurricane Irma has tore the end of this house off. Credit: St Johns County Fire and Rescue

The president deflected questions about the billions of dollars needed to help affected communities, saying "right now we're worried about lives, not cost."

Insurers believe the damage wreaked may be as great as 40 billion dollars.

President Trump's administration also plans to send billions of dollars in aid to those affected by Storm Harvey in Texas two weeks ago.