JACKSONVILLE: A weakened Hurricane Matthew churned just off the coast of the US states of Georgia and South Carolina Saturday, threatening deadly floods after leaving more than a million people without power in Florida and claiming five lives. “There is a danger of life-threatening inundation during the next 36 hours along the Florida northeast coast, the Georgia coast, the South Carolina coast, and (part of) the North Carolina coast,” warned the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm was 45 miles (70 kilometers) south of Hilton Head, South Carolina. Authorities in South Carolina ordered thousands to evacuate inland to shelters, where people sprawled out in school gyms. “The potential for storm surge, flooding, loss of life and severe property damage continues to exist.”Obama has declared federal states of emergency in Florida, Georgia, and North and South Carolina.

Source: Manila Times October 08, 2016 13:18 UTC