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Hurricane Sandy closes in on US East Coast | Hurricane Sandy closes in on US East Coast |
(35 minutes later) | |
updates | |
Hurricane Sandy is closing in on highly populated areas of the US east coast threatening storm surges and devastating flooding. | Hurricane Sandy is closing in on highly populated areas of the US east coast threatening storm surges and devastating flooding. |
In New York City, thousands of people have been ordered to leave their homes and evacuation shelters have been set up in 76 schools. | In New York City, thousands of people have been ordered to leave their homes and evacuation shelters have been set up in 76 schools. |
Public transport has been halted and the New York Stock Exchange closed. | Public transport has been halted and the New York Stock Exchange closed. |
Forecasters fear Sandy will become a super-storm when it collides with cold weather fronts from the west and north. | Forecasters fear Sandy will become a super-storm when it collides with cold weather fronts from the west and north. |
Sandy has already killed 60 people after sweeping through the Caribbean in the past week. | Sandy has already killed 60 people after sweeping through the Caribbean in the past week. |
Campaigning for the US presidential election has also been disrupted, eight days ahead of election day. | Campaigning for the US presidential election has also been disrupted, eight days ahead of election day. |
At 05:00 EDT (09:00 GMT), Sandy was churning about 385 miles (615km) south-east of New York City, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. | At 05:00 EDT (09:00 GMT), Sandy was churning about 385 miles (615km) south-east of New York City, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. |
Worryingly, forecasters said its maximum sustained winds had increased to 85mph (140km/h) from 75mph recorded hours earlier. | Worryingly, forecasters said its maximum sustained winds had increased to 85mph (140km/h) from 75mph recorded hours earlier. |
The vast hurricane, about 520 miles (835km) across, is moving slowly north and could linger over as many as 12 states for 24-36 hours, bringing up to 25cm of rain, 60cm of snow, extreme storm surges and power cuts. | The vast hurricane, about 520 miles (835km) across, is moving slowly north and could linger over as many as 12 states for 24-36 hours, bringing up to 25cm of rain, 60cm of snow, extreme storm surges and power cuts. |
The eye of the storm is expected to barrel across the coast of mid-Atlantic states by Monday night, the NHC said. | The eye of the storm is expected to barrel across the coast of mid-Atlantic states by Monday night, the NHC said. |
As it will hit the US East Coast just before Halloween, it is being dubbed a "Frankenstorm". | As it will hit the US East Coast just before Halloween, it is being dubbed a "Frankenstorm". |
With emergencies declared in several east-coast states, many workers were staying at home on Monday. | With emergencies declared in several east-coast states, many workers were staying at home on Monday. |
New York City's subway, bus and train services were suspended from Sunday evening, and schools are shut. | New York City's subway, bus and train services were suspended from Sunday evening, and schools are shut. |
Taxi driver Peter Franklin told the BBC that the city was "shut down". | Taxi driver Peter Franklin told the BBC that the city was "shut down". |
"I feel like I am living in a science fiction movie," he said. | "I feel like I am living in a science fiction movie," he said. |
Hundreds of thousands of people from Maryland to Connecticut were ordered to leave low-lying coastal areas. | Hundreds of thousands of people from Maryland to Connecticut were ordered to leave low-lying coastal areas. |
They included about 375,000 in lower Manhattan and other areas of New York City and another 30,000 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. | They included about 375,000 in lower Manhattan and other areas of New York City and another 30,000 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. |
President Barack Obama declared emergencies in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. | President Barack Obama declared emergencies in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. |
Visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) in Washington on Sunday, he vowed the government would "respond big and respond fast" after Sandy had passed. | Visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) in Washington on Sunday, he vowed the government would "respond big and respond fast" after Sandy had passed. |
"My message to the governors as well as to the mayors is anything they need, we will be there, and we will cut through red tape," he said. | "My message to the governors as well as to the mayors is anything they need, we will be there, and we will cut through red tape," he said. |
Authorities warned that high tides triggered by a full moon could create storm surges of up 11ft (3m), sending seawater surging through parts of lower Manhattan. | Authorities warned that high tides triggered by a full moon could create storm surges of up 11ft (3m), sending seawater surging through parts of lower Manhattan. |
The United Nations headquarters in New York also shut down. | The United Nations headquarters in New York also shut down. |
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg described it as "a serious and dangerous storm." | New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg described it as "a serious and dangerous storm." |
Addressing those who had been advised to leave, he said: "If you don't evacuate, you are not only endangering your life, you are also endangering the lives of the first responders who are going in to rescue you." | Addressing those who had been advised to leave, he said: "If you don't evacuate, you are not only endangering your life, you are also endangering the lives of the first responders who are going in to rescue you." |
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie echoed his words, saying: "Don't be stupid. Get out." | New Jersey Governor Chris Christie echoed his words, saying: "Don't be stupid. Get out." |
Amtrak has suspended passenger train services across the north-east and air travel has been badly hit, with some 6,800 flights cancelled. | Amtrak has suspended passenger train services across the north-east and air travel has been badly hit, with some 6,800 flights cancelled. |
The Statue of Liberty was reopened on Sunday after a year of renovation, but only a group of army cadets got a tour before it was shut again until at least Wednesday. | The Statue of Liberty was reopened on Sunday after a year of renovation, but only a group of army cadets got a tour before it was shut again until at least Wednesday. |
Some 200 National Guardsmen will patrol Manhattan and 300 more will be deployed in Long Island. | Some 200 National Guardsmen will patrol Manhattan and 300 more will be deployed in Long Island. |
Path of Hurricane Sandy | |
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Temperature (°C)More details from BBC Weather | |
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