One million people evacuated due to Hurricane Irma

Two people died in Puerto Rico, bringing the death toll from Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean islands to 12, as the Category 5 hurricane approaches Cuba and the US state of Florida, world agencies report, as carried by Patria agency.

In Cuba, where the hurricane is expected on Friday evening, 10,000 tourists have been ordered to leave hotels or houses on the most exposed coasts.

Irma is then expected to move up the southeastern coast of the US, towards Florida, and then towards Georgia and South Carolina, according to predictions by the US Hurricane Center, which warns of tides eight meters above normal and a "danger of deadly floods" within the next 36 hours.

The largest evacuation in history is underway in the Bahamas, and the evacuation of residents has begun in Key West, Florida. Approximately one million residents have received mandatory evacuation orders.

As Irma, the strongest hurricane recorded in history with wind gusts of 295 kilometers per hour that have not subsided for 37 hours, approaches the US mainland, where it is expected to arrive on Sunday afternoon local time, more and more people are subject to mandatory evacuation. 

- Regardless of which coast of Florida you live on, be prepared to evacuate. This is not a storm you can sit and wait out. You don't have to drive thousands of kilometers and leave the state to be safe. It is enough to go to shelters - said Florida Governor Rick Scott.

After being hit by Irma, residents of the Caribbean islands have been warned of the possible danger of a hurricane, as the newly formed Hurricane Jose has reached Category 3 strength on a scale of 5, and is passing through almost the same area devastated by Irma.