Flights to parts of Florida – as well as cruises around the US state – have been cancelled as a massive hurricane approaches the eastern seabord of the US.
As reported, Hurricane Frances is expected to reach the Florida coast today, with winds of up to 145 miles per hour – having already caused chaos in parts of the Caribbean.
The “core” of the storm is expected to cross the coast late on Saturday, local media outlets report, with the storm expected to bring as much as 20 inches of rain to some parts of Florida.
Orlando’s Sandford Airport has announced that it will be closing for the weekend, with Virgin Atlantic cancelling its flights to the city until Monday. British Airways has also cancelled flights to the region, and has sent workers to Florida to advise holidaymakers who are already in the state. Charter flights have also been grounded.
Some 1,400 British tourists, due to have flown home this weekend, are stranded in the state until flights start operating again.
Royal Caribbean International, among others, has cancelled several sailings, with ships that were due to dock in Florida this weekend making alternative arrangements. Sailings to the Bahamas, which has already been hit by the hurricane, are also being affected.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
