Boris Johnson sees Hurricane Irma’s devastation as he lands in the Caribbean

BY GEORGINA STUBBS SCOTT D’ARCY From Mirror UK

The Foreign Secretary insisted Britain reacted “extremely fast” to the disaster after the nation’s response was branded too slow

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson arrived last night on a trip to storm-ravaged Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands
(Image: PA)

He faced criticism over Britain’s response, which has been branded too slow
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The Tory Cabinet minister insisted: “Most fair-minded people have said that the UK responded extremely fast and extremely well. We had (landing ship dock) RFA Mounts Bay in position in the region before the hurricane struck – it would have been totally absurd to bring troops in or bring heavy aircraft during the storm itself”
(Image: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC/Crown Copyright)

“The military presence is really ratcheting up now,” he claimed. “There were about 700 troops in the region, that has now gone up to 1,000. It will go up to 1,250 in the course of the next few days”
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Britain’s flagship HMS Ocean is stacked with 200 pallets of aid, but only set sail on the long journey from Gibraltar last night
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Mr Johnson talking to the pilots of an RAF A400M aircraft in Barbados, where he stopped on his way
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Hurricane Irma has brought chaos, flooding and death to the Caribbean and the coast of Florida
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Buildings were ripped apart in the British Virgin Islands
(Image: AFP)

Devastation of the island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands on September 11
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The former attorney general of Anguilla, Rupert Jones, described Britain’s £32 million in aid as a “drop in the Caribbean Sea” (pictured: Members of 59 Commando Squadron from 24 Commando Royal Engineers in Tortola, British Virgin Islands)
(Image: AFP)

Chief minister of Anguilla Victor Banks said the £32 million pledged in aid to territories in the region is “significant”, but added “it is not enough” and estimated the bill to repair his island’s infrastructure alone could reach £1 billion (pictured: Members of 59 Commando Squadron from 24 Commando Royal Engineers in Tortola, British Virgin Islands)
(Image: AFP)

For more on this story go to: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/gallery/boris-johnson-hurricane-irma-photos-11161636