A storm moving through the eastern Caribbean has strengthened to a Category Four hurricane, prompting warnings for several islands.

一股强风暴已抵达东加勒比海地区，并逐渐增强至四级飓风，对周围几座岛屿造成威胁。

Hurricane Earl is expected to gain more strength before heading towards the US.

Forecasters say it is a major hurricane and could cause "catastrophic" damage if it hits land.

Strong winds and heavy rains are already lashing¹（鞭打，痛斥） several islands in Caribbean, but the storm has now passed by the Virgin² Islands.

The hurricane is generating sustained（持久的） winds of 215km/h (135mph).

It is currently north-east of Puerto Rico, and moving west-northwest at about 24km/h, the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports.

The centre of the storm is expected to move away from the Virgin Islands on Monday night and pass to the east of the Turks and Caicos on Tuesday night.

Hurricane warnings in place on several islands in the region have now been degraded.

However, Earl caused heavy rains and flooding in low-lying areas, and it damaged homes on several islands including Antigua and Barbuda.

Several countries reported power outages（停机，断电） . Cruise ships were diverted and flights cancelled across the region.

The NHC said it was too early to say what effect Earl would have on the eastern US coast later in the week, but it warned coastal³ residents from North Carolina to Maine to watch the storm's path.

Earl is being closely followed by Tropical Storm Fiona, currently east of the Leeward⁴ Isles⁵ with winds of up to 65km/h.