Roundup: U.S. Florida beefs up preparation for Hurricane Milton

9/10/2024 17:39

        Florida is making final preparations ahead of Hurricane Milton, which is forecast to make landfall near Tampa Bay on the west central coast of the U.S. state on Wednesday.
        
        More than 5 million residents on Florida's western coast were urged to leave the densely populated coastal area. Milton re-intensified on Tuesday to Category 5, the highest rating, with sustained winds at about 270 km/h in the center.
        
        More than 20 counties in the state issued mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders and officials uttered out dire warnings to those under evacuation orders.
        Officials said the "life-threatening storm" will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approach the west coast of Florida through Wednesday. The center is likely to make landfall along the west coast of Florida on Wednesday night.