Irma downgraded to category one but remains a force to be reckoned with

Hurricane Irma has been downgraded from a category three hurricane to category one on Monday but remains a force to be reckoned with after blasting up the west coast of Florida.

As of 1151BST, Irma was moving north-northwest at 18mph with maximum sustained winds of 75mph, according to the National Hurricane Center, leaving dangerous flooding along long stretches of the coast.

Hurricane warnings were in effect for Sebastian Inlet to Fernandina Beach, Anclote River to Indian Pass, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Approximately six million people had been ordered to flee from Irma's path in one of the biggest evacuations in US history, with President Donald Trump having approved a major disaster declaration and emergency federal aid for Florida on Sunday, referring to the hurricane as a "big monster".

Irma had already killed three people in Southern Florida on Sunday as a more powerful category four storm after devastating ten Caribbean countries and territories, claiming the lives of at least 28 people there.

Over four million homes in Florida were left without power, according to reports, with some areas of the city of Miami currently under water.

In parallel, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, it was too soon to know whether Jose, a category 2 hurricane, would have any impact on Florida.