Hurricane Dorian intensifies as Florida preps for an 'absolute monster'

Friday, 30 August 2019 12:23

A resident in Florida fills gas cans in preparation for Hurricane Dorian (GERARDO MORA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Hurricane Dorian is expected to strengthen into a dangerous Category 3 storm on Friday as it heads towards the US mainland.

It's expected to hit Florida even harder than previously thought, with winds of at least 178 km/h.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expanded a state of emergency to prepare for Hurricane Dorian, which is set to make landfall on the Atlantic coast early Monday as a dangerous Category 4 storm.

US President Donald Trump described the storm as "an absolute monster" in a video posted on Twitter.

He also cancelled a visit to Poland in order to monitor relief measures and announced that Vice President Mike Pence would go in his place.

More from International News

US military says it turned away blockade runner trying to reach Iranian port

The US military has announced that it fired a missile into the engine room of a vessel trying to get through the US blockade of Iran on Friday.
WHO chief urges safe burials in visit to heart of Ebola outbreak

The World Health Organisation (WHO) chief has travelled on Saturday to the Congolese province hardest hit by an Ebola outbreak, urging residents to seek treatment and practice safe burials as officials scramble to contain the fatal disease.
Rescuers pull four from flooded cave in Laos

Rescuers pulled four people from a flooded cave in Laos on Saturday, Thai volunteers said, hours after another man was brought out late on Friday.
Brazil investigates suspected Ebola case in Sao Paulo

Health authorities in Brazil's Sao Paulo state are investigating a suspected case of Ebola reported on Saturday in the state capital, officials said.