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Tom Tugendhat writes to government ministers about Hurricane Irma

10:00, 09 September 2017

updated: 10:06, 09 September 2017

A Kent MP has written to government ministers to express concern about the level of relief being offered to overseas territories after Hurricane Irma hit.

Tom Tugendhat, who represents Tonbridge, Edenbridge and Malling and is the chairman of parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, sent a letter to foreign secretary Boris Johnson and international development secretary Priti Patel.

In it he wrote: "Experts and many in the area have been critical of the overall level of relief currently on offer as well as the apparent lack of forward-thinking once the storm's route to Florida became more than just a possibility."

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Hurricane Irma is currently passing through the British Virgin Islands towards Florida. Picture: Nasa
Hurricane Irma is currently passing through the British Virgin Islands towards Florida. Picture: Nasa

The letter was co-signed by the chairman of the International Development Committee and Labour MP Stephen Twigg.

It comes as the category five hurricane, the most severe type, is heading towards the US after hitting the British Virgin Islands.

LISTEN: Tom Tugendhat on Hurricane Irma

The storm is currently engulfing Cuba and on course to strike Florida.

It is believed winds of up to 160mph have hit the Caribbean in recent days, leaving around 20 people dead in its wake and destroying thousands of homes.

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