WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Bernama-dpa) -- The west coast of Florida is bracing for Hurricane Milton, a violent storm that is expected to hit the US region shortly after it was hit by Hurricane Helene.
Milton has gained strength off the west coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico and is now a category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of up to around 285 kilometres per hour (km/h). It is expected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday, with forecasts predicting it will slow somewhat and hit the coast as a category 3 storm, with wind speeds of up to 209 km/h.
The storm poses an "extremely serious" threat and is life-threatening, according to US authorities. Milton is one of the strongest hurricanes in the history of the Atlantic hurricane season, US media reported, according to German news agency (dpa)
Despite its decreasing strength, Milton remains dangerous because it is expected to grow in size, affecting a wide area. The cities of Naples, Fort Meyers and Tampa are particularly at risk. The Tampa International Airport will close on Tuesday at 9 am (1300 GMT) and remain shut until it is safe to reopen, its website said. In Orlando, which is further inland, the airport will shut on Wednesday at 8 am and reopen "as soon as possible," its website said.
The White House announced support for Florida and US President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency for Florida. This will release federal funds to support the affected regions.
-- BERNAMA-dpa
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