The U.S. National Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning for the East Coast, as Hurricane Elena intensified into a Category 4 storm on Monday. Coastal states including Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have ordered over 1.2 million people to evacuate low-lying areas.
Forecasters warn that wind speeds could reach 210 km/h, along with heavy rainfall and storm surges that may flood coastal towns. Airlines have canceled hundreds of flights, while Amtrak suspended train services in affected regions. U.S. President Joe Biden said federal emergency teams are on standby, urging citizens to take the warnings seriously.