Britain is sending two military transport planes to the Caribbean today to aid victims of Hurricane Irma as the British Virgin Islands declared a state of emergency. <br/><br/>A defence ministry spokesman said two planes loaded with personnel, supplies and recovery equipment were to set off today, with one heading to the British Virgin Islands, an archipelago with around 28,000 inhabitants that was subjected to the full force of the mega-storm. <br/> <br/>On the ground, Governor Gus Jaspert said he had declared a state of emergency, indicating there had reports of both injuries and deaths during the storm. In Turks and Caicos, another British territory struck by the hurricane, the disaster agency tweeted that National shutdown has been declared. All residents & tourists are instructed to stay indoors.<br/><br/>Prime Minister Theresa May has increased the aid budget for Irma to 41.8 million dollars and said Britain was also sending two military vessels to assist in relief efforts.

Britain is sending two military transport planes to the Caribbean today to aid victims of Hurricane Irma as the British Virgin Islands declared a state of emergency. <br/><br/>A defence ministry spokesman said two planes loaded with personnel, supplies and recovery equipment were to set off today, with one heading to the British Virgin Islands, an archipelago with around 28,000 inhabitants that was subjected to the full force of the mega-storm. <br/> <br/>On the ground, Governor Gus Jaspert said he had declared a state of emergency, indicating there had reports of both injuries and deaths during the storm. In Turks and Caicos, another British territory struck by the hurricane, the disaster agency tweeted that National shutdown has been declared. All residents & tourists are instructed to stay indoors.<br/><br/>Prime Minister Theresa May has increased the aid budget for Irma to 41.8 million dollars and said Britain was also sending two military vessels to assist in relief efforts.