Damages caused by hurricane Irma in France's overseas islands of Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy were valued at 1.2 billion euros (1.44 billion U.S. dollars), a government body estimated on Saturday.

"The amount of insured damage arising from this event will rise to almost 1.2 billion euros. This amount includes damages to residential buildings, vehicles and businesses (including business interruption losses) that are covered by the French Natural Disaster compensation scheme," CCR said.

This estimate was made by the reinsurer's multidisciplinary experts using digital simulations based on data from numerous sources, it added.

In latest death toll report, French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said Irma killed nine people in French Caribbean islands.

Seven others were reported missing and 112 were wounded when the most powerful storm in a century had swept the zone.

Earlier this week, Irma, with maximum sustained wind speed of 360 km per hour, demolished French Caribbean islands through its path before downgrading from category 5 to category 4 on Friday.

The French government has sent rescue teams including firefighters and medical staff to the storm-hit areas, according to local media.

In a statement, the Elysee Palace said President Emmanuel Macron will fly to the destroyed French islands "as soon as possible.

source: Xinhua