Hurricane Milton strengthens as it heads towards storm-ravaged Florida

Residents prepare sandbags before the expected arrival of Hurricane Milton, in Seminole, Florida, October 6, 2024 [Octavio Jones/Reuters]

Hurricane Milton is gaining strength as it churns towards the coast of Florida, authorities have warned, as the southeastern United States continues to reel in the aftermath of the deadly and destructive Hurricane Helene.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Sunday that Milton had intensified into a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130km per hour (80 miles per hour).