Tampa, United States (AFP) – A major storm bearing down on Florida strengthened into a hurricane Wednesday, US meteorologists said, as the US state mandates evacuations for thousands of residents and braces for possible dangerous storm surge and flooding.

“Helene becomes a hurricane… expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains to a large portion of Florida and the Southeastern United States,” the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its latest bulletin.

bur-mlm/nro

© Agence France-Presse

Featured image credit: kjpargeter | Freepik

Image: Illustration of krill in the Southern Ocean ecosystem
Antarctic krill lock away carbon on par with seagrass and mangrovesClimateNews

Antarctic krill lock away carbon on par with seagrass and mangroves

Tiny Antarctic krill, key players in the Southern Ocean ecosystem, are as vital for carbon storage as mangroves and seagrasses, according to a new study.…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreSeptember 17, 2024 Full article
Still life with the scales of justice (climate,green justice, Youths sue Trump over US climate orders)
Verdict due for Sweden’s ‘Queen of Trash’ over toxic wasteNews

Verdict due for Sweden’s ‘Queen of Trash’ over toxic waste

Stockholm, Sweden | AFP A court in Sweden will rule Tuesday in the country's biggest environmental crime trial, where a self-proclaimed "Queen of Trash" and four…
SourceSourceJune 17, 2025 Full article
Image: Aerial view of Okinotorishima, Japan (12 June 2007)
Japan says China conducted research near Pacific atollNews

Japan says China conducted research near Pacific atoll

Tokyo, Japan | AFP Japan has accused China of conducting unnotified maritime scientific research within its exclusive economic zone around its southernmost island in the…
SourceSourceMay 27, 2025 Full article