Hurricane Irma rips roof off only hospital on St. Thomas of US Virgin Islands

Winds from Hurricane Irma — one of the strongest storms ever registered in the Atlantic Ocean — tore off Roy Schneider Medical Center's roof on St. Thomas, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, USA Today reports.

RSMC is the only hospital on the island of St. Thomas. Rep. Stacey Plaskett, the Democratic delegate to the U.S. Virgin Islands, said authorities were evacuating patients to St. Croix island by helicopter Thursday. 

In addition, St. Thomas' 911 emergency system is down. Debris covering the island's damaged airport and rough seas are impeding relief efforts, Rep. Plaskett told USA Today.

As of Thursday afternoon, no fatalities were reported on the U.S. territory. President Donald Trump approved a disaster declaration for the U.S. Virgin Islands Thursday.  

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