Hurricane Dorian sweeps across the East Coast of the United States – rts.ch

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned of rising waters dangerous to human life, winds, torrential rains and tornadoes on parts of the states of South Carolina and North Carolina.

If the strength of the winds varies, with squalls blowing between 175 km / h and 185km / h, Dorian is only 95 km from the city of Myrtle Beach. The hurricane was still approaching Thursday the coast of this state before forking to North Carolina, according to the NHC.

200,000 sites without electricity

In Charleston, the wind was shaking the trees violently, and a whirlwind of water was falling on this tourist town.

Power lines and trees collapsed and the arrival of water pushed authorities to close roads, tweeted the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. More than 200,000 sites were without power in the state, according to authorities, where 33 shelters were opened.

Increased risk of tornadoes

But the worst is to be feared: Dorian will continue to move Thursday near the coast of South Carolina, then could pass next to or above North Carolina Thursday night and Friday. And the NHC warns of "increased risk" of "tornadoes" on eastern North Carolina on Thursday.

Several parts of the southeastern coast of the United States, where millions of people live, have been placed under a state of emergency. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in several areas.

Before approaching US shores, Dorian devastated islands in the Bahamas, where thirty people lost their lives, according to a final provisional assessment.

>> Read:

Ravaged by Hurricane Dorian, the Bahamas count their dead

ats / afp / lan