Irma: Pippa Middleton’s in-laws’ hotel destroyed by storm on Caribbean island St Barts
The Eden Rock Hotel has been popular with celebrities for decades
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A luxury hotel owned by the parents of Pippa Middleton’s husband James Matthews has been wrecked by Hurricane Irma.
The Eden Rock Hotel, which is on the Caribbean island of St Barthelemy - otherwise known as St Barts - has been destroyed by the category five hurricane which has devastated the region.
Pictures of the ruined resort were posted to Facebook by Kevin Barrallon, a resident of the island.
The luxury hotel was built in the 1950s by politician and businessman Remy de Haenen.
It was one of the first hotels constructed on the island and soon became popular with celebrities including actress Greta Garbo and film tycoon Howard Hughes.
The hotel was sold to the Matthews family in 1995 and has remained hugely popular among the elite, with room prices starting at nearly £800 a night.
Guests have included Jessica Alba, Tom Hanks, Bono and Nicole Richie.
Hurricane Irma, the most powerful Atlantic Ocean storm in decades, has left a trail of destruction in the eastern Caribbean, killing at least ten people and leaving thousands homeless.
Officials have said government buildings have been destroyed and roofs ripped off homes in St Barts, with large areas still underwater.
Around 90 per cent of buildings have also been razed to the ground in Barbuda, a small island that forms part of the state of Antigua and Barbuda.
Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the island had been reduced to “rubble” and said it was “barely habitable” after 185mph winds struck the region on Wednesday.
The storm has barreled through the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico, towards the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba.
A state of emergency has been declared in Florida, which is expected to be hit by Irma within a few days.
Mayors in Miami-Dade and Broward counties issued mandatory evacuation orders for barrier islands and low-lying mainland areas in the metro area of 6 million.
Forecasters have predicted the hurricane could strike the US over the weekend bringing winds of 180 mph.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments