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Hurricane Hermine lashes Florida, claims life

A woman runs around the base of a downed tree in a front yard of a neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Hermine in Tallahassee, Florida, on September 2, 2016. (Reuters photo)

Hurricane Hermine has struck the US state of Florida, killing at least one person and forcing officials to declare a state of emergency in 51 counties across the state.

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the storm, packing up gusts at 130 kilometers per hour, made land fall in Florida early on Friday, adding that power cuts hit more than 253,000 homes and businesses all throughout the state.

"There is a danger of life-threatening inundation within the next 12 to 24 hours along the Gulf coast of Florida," NHC noted.

Reports said a man was found dead under a fallen tree in the city of Ocala, Northern Florida.

Homes and vehicles sit in several feet of water left behind by the storm surge associated with Hurricane Hermine which made landfall overnight in the area on September 2, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. (AFP photo)

Calling on residents to stay indoors, Rick Scott, the state governor, ordered evacuations in five counties and demanded voluntary evacuations in three others after the hurricane accompanied by heavy rains, caused flooding and blockage of roads and pathways.

Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said 100 personnel from Florida National Guard were deployed in the area and 6,000 more were put on high alert.

Law enforcement officers use an airboat to survey damage around homes from high winds and storm surge associated with Hurricane Hermine which made landfall overnight in the area on September 2, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. (AFP)

Weather officials have predicted that the Category One storm could bring heavy rains along the East Coast in the coming days and stall near the New Jersey coast next week.

Hermine is the first hurricane to hit Florida in 11 years since Hurricane Wilma in 2005.


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