As Hurricane Irma advances, Trump declares emergencies in Florida, Puerto Rico

Hurricane Irma, which has been strengthened into a powerful Category 5 will soon make a landfall on Caribbean islands and South Florida on Saturday. The experts have warned that the Hurricane Irma could dump up to 25cm of rain, cause landslides and flash floods and generate waves of up to 7m.

Meanwhile, the US president Donald Trump has declared emergencies in Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

On Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said the Hurricane Irma was "potentially catastrophic" with life-threatening wind, storm surge and rainfall hazards. It would likely bring these conditions to the Leeward Islands on Tuesday night and the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

The last major hurricane registering as a Category 3 storm or stronger - to make landfall in Florida was Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. Wilma also was the last major hurricane to make landfall in the United States until Harvey struck Texas late last month.

OneIndia News