Antigua and Barbuda was on Monday afternoon mopping up after serious flooding caused by Hurricane Earl's heavy rains and gusty winds. The 100 mph category two hurricane brought with it few reports of wind damage, with only a few trees and power lines downed.

Eight people had to be evacuated from the flooded community of West Palm Beach, Bolans, in the south of the island, but were no reports of deaths or injuries. The VC Bird International Airport was shut down during the storm, which affected flights into and out of the islands.

At least 350 people were housed in 34 shelters but 4 other shelters were not opened.

The hurricane, meanwhile, strengthened into a Category 4 storm on Wednesday afternoon as it churned its way up the Atlantic, posing a threat to Canada’s East Coast.

The storm also battered Anguilla and St Maarten during its trek through the Caribbean, forcing cruise ships to divert and causing power outages in several islands.

“We are getting a battering with rain,” said Martin Guissie, an Anguillan police officer as the storm passed.

No deaths were reported in any Caribbean territory as a result of the storm, the first major one of the Atlantic hurricane season.