After battering the north coast of Cuba, Hurriane Irma is heading towards the US southern state of Florida.<br /><br />In one of the country’s largest evacuations, about 5.6 million people – more than one-quarter of the state’s population – were ordered to leave.<br /><br />People have also been gathering in shelters with their families and pets.<br /><br />The Mayor of Miami beach has urged people to either leave town or stay indoors.<br /><br />Philip Levine said: “I am happy when I see no people, walking on the streets, there’s really no people on the streets. That’s the most important that our message has gotten out there. <br /><br />“Everyone needs to evacuate, whether you’re a visitor, or you’re a resident, you shouldn’t be in Miami Beach right now. This storm is powerful, it’s strong, it’s aggressive and it’s coming our way.”<br /><br />The US National Hurricane Centre says while Irma has been downgraded to Category 3 storm with gusts of 130 mph, it is expected to strengthen and move up the state’s Gulf Coast towards Georgia.<br /><br />Emergency officials in the state capital Atlanta have have ordered an evacuation of the state’s coastal residents .<br /><br />On early Friday, Irma pounded the north coast of the province of Guantanamo, in Cuba particularly the towns of Maisi and Baracoa where it caused flooding.<br /><br />More than 700,000 people, including 36,000 tourists, were evacuated.<br />
