Today's Edition
FLORIDA (DPA)
Four people have been killed in the United States as a result of Hurricane Isaias, officials confirmed on Saturday.
According to official figures from Florida and Alabama, hundreds of thousands of people are without electricity. In Florida alone, 430,000 households have been affected, Governor Ron DeSantis said.
According to DeSantis, one person was killed in Florida when a tree crashed onto the roof of their house. Another victim was found dead in a garage where a generator was running. DeSantis did not provide further details on the cause of death.
Alabama's emergency management agency put the number of power cuts at 200,000. Two people are also reported to have died in the state.
Isaias made landfall in Florida on Friday with wind speeds of up to 165 kilometres per hour. A state of emergency had been declared in several states as a precautionary measure.
The storm had initially been classified as a hurricane, but had weakened overnight. Nevertheless, according to the weather service, there is still a risk to life, among others from flooding.
The storm is now sweeping across large parts of the south-east of the US, bringing heavy rain and extreme winds.
According to the National Hurricane Centre, the effects may be felt not only in Florida and Alabama, but also in the states of Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee and others. Locally, landslides and tornadoes are possible.
In Mexico, people are bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Simon.
The hurricane, which has now been classified as a Category 4 (very strong) storm, is expected to maintain its strength and continue heading towards the central-western Pacific coast, the Mexican Meteorological Service and the Mexican Marine Ministry said.
The Meteorological Service forecasts that by Sunday evening the hurricane will have come within a good 30 kilometres of the Mexican west coast.
Heavy rain, wind speeds of up to 240 kilometres per hour at the centre of the hurricane, and wave heights of six to eight metres are expected.
According to the ministry, low-lying areas are at risk of high water levels, flooding, and landslides.
