Hurricane Joaquin threatens US East Coast, schools closed since yesterday

Moving at 195 kilometres per hour, Hurricane Joaquin headed towards the Bahamas after reaching Category 3 on a five-point scale, and by the end of the week, as US authorities fear, it could threaten the East Coast of the United States, reports the Patria news agency.

-We expect it to become a major hurricane in the next 24 hours, experts at the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) based in Miami warned on Wednesday.

Hurricanes are classified as Category 3 or above on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale when wind speeds exceed 178 kilometres per hour. The hurricane's centre is expected to pass near or through the central Bahamas on Thursday, according to the NHC.

A hurricane warning is in effect for several islands in the central and northwestern part of the archipelago. Schools have been closed since Wednesday, reports Index.