Hurricane Irma is lashing Cuba with strong winds and heavy rain after devastating several Caribbean islands. Irma, which strengthened in the last few hours, hit the Camaguey Archipelago late on Friday, threatening nearby coastal towns and villages. <br/><br/>At least 21 people have died so far across the Caribbean. In Florida, 5.6 million people, or 25 percent of the US state's population, have been told to leave as the storm approaches. <br/>This is the first time a category five hurricane has hit Cuba in decades. The National Hurricane Center in the US said at 03:00 GMT today, Irma had maximum sustained winds of 257km per hour. The eye of the storm was about 190km east-southeast of the Cuban fishing town of Caibarien.<br/><br/>A hurricane warning is currently in effect in the provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara and Matanzas.