Wind gusts close to hurricane force are battering islands in Florida's south as Hurricane Irma is due to hit the mainland in the coming hours.
Water levels are already rising on the coast of the US state where a huge storm surge is expected.
Some 6.3 million people had been told to evacuate, but the state governor said it was now too late to leave for anyone remaining.
At least 24 people have died after Irma earlier hit several Caribbean islands.
With maximum sustained winds of 193km/h, Hurricane Irma is expected to strengthen and will remain a powerful hurricane as it approaches Florida.
Source: BBC
