Carribean

One of the mariners, on board the cruise-ship MSC Armonia, said only three of them are working while the remaining nine have been furloughed due to Covid-19.

Taulapapa Pa'o said the nine have not been paid since being stood down in early April.

Taulapapa said they are calling on Samoa Shipping Services to work with the Mediterranean Shipping Company to bring them home.

Taulapapa said he was concerned about post-traumatic-stress due to being locked onboard with no work, but only eat and sleep.

Howling winds and rough seas battered the British overseas territory, experiencing a top-rated category five hurricane for the first time.

There has been some damage and flooding in Haiti, which is still recovering from the devastating 2010 earthquake.

Some 500,000 people were told to leave south Florida with Irma due on Sunday.

The hurricane's winds have moderated slightly, at up to 270km/h.

An estimated 1.2 million people have been affected by Irma and that could rise sharply to 26 million, the Red Cross says.