A state of emergency has been declared in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida as Hurricane Matthew is poised to hit the US within hours, as its expected to be a catastrophic storm with destructive winds and flooding that hasn't been seen in more than a decade in that area of the East Coast. Even before the full force of the powerful storm hits, thousands of people have already been left without power in some parts of the sunshine state. Florida Power and Light reported that a combined 12,000 customers in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have been left without power this afternoon as it warns that 2.5 million statewide will experience outages in the aftermath of the storm. About 1.5 million people in Florida have been told to flee inland as the dangerous and life-threatening Category Four storm could become a Category Five and siege on the east coast of the state. The storm that's packing winds of up to 145mph is expected to hit Southeast Florida by Thursday evening through early Friday, as weather forecasters predict it will bring a dangerous storm surge to some parts of the state that will be even worse than what happened in New Jersey during Super Storm Sandy in 2012. Destructive winds and flooding is expected to stretch into Georgia and South Carolina moving up the coast by the weekend. Weather forecasters say the eye of the hurricane may never make landfall, however, the eyewall which contains the strongest winds, may do so.
Fifteen suspected migrants including a child are found huddled together 'at -25C' inside a freezer lorry at an M25 service station after the driver heard banging coming from the trailer
The driver stopped at Clacket Lane service station in Surrey after hearing a loud banging coming from inside the vehicle this morning. Police closed a petrol station slip road and detained the lorry's occupants on suspicion of illegal entry into the country. Reports from the scene suggest the contents of the lorry, which had travelled from the Port of Dover, were frozen to -25C.
- 'The worst is still to come': Hurricane Matthew pummels Florida coast with 100mph winds and flash floods as more than 800,000 lose power
- The migrants who nearly froze to death next to boxes of Aunt Bessie's roast potatoes: 15 people - including a child - are found huddled together inside a '-25C' freezer lorry at M25 service station
- RIP to the party that changed Britain for ever: DOMINIC SANDBROOK on how Ukip's infighting came to the fore after the party's reason for existing disappeared after the referendum
- Sir Cliff Richard SUES BBC and South Yorkshire Police over live coverage of raid on his house
- Hypocrisy of webcam GPs: Despite complaining of recruitment crisis, doctors' leaders urge them to earn £90k from private sessions online
- Welcome to Britain? What my Mum's ordeal at Heathrow Airport says about us, writes RICHARD LITTLEJOHN
- Clarifications and corrections
- First for the Army as soldier weds his groom on base: Air Vice Marshal does the honours as gay couple tie the knot in Cyprus
- Mother sues NHS over disabled daughter: Businesswoman says she 'would have had an abortion' if she'd known her daughter Matilda would be born with illness similar to Zika virus
- GP who admitted having a one-night stand with a vulnerable patient faces being struck off after tribunal finds her guilty of misconduct
- Migrants attack police with fire extinguishers in escape from Spanish detention centre on the day EU launches new border force
- Deadly risks of fly-in European plastic surgeons: Patients who suffer complications are warned that cheap doctors are hard to track down
- How the rise in speed limits for HGVs on rural roads has actually led to lorries going slower than before
- Why don't we let UK jihadis go to Syria? Senior judge questions why taxpayers' money is being used to stop people travelling there
- Creepy clown gets beat up with a baseball bat when he tries to scare a group of friends hanging out in their car
- 'The worst is still to come': Hurricane Matthew pummels Florida coast with 100mph winds and flash floods as more than 800,000 lose power
- Hurricane? I'll drink to that! Thousands of Floridians - led by Vanilla Ice - ignore calls to evacuate to surf, party and mess around on the beach dressed as DINOSAURS
- Fears for a huge flock of migrating birds which has been caught INSIDE the eye of Hurricane Matthew and can’t escape
- Former Miss Universe says she's done giving interviews about 'fat-shaming' after life story unravels: 'We will not be discussing the Trump subject any further'
- 'Time is up': Killer Matthew to hit Florida with 145mph in hours as storm becomes most powerful Hurricane to strike Florida in 12 YEARS amid warnings it will cause 'immense human suffering'
- 'We've never seen anything like this': Mother's boyfriend, 32, is arrested for raping ten-month-old girl to death in horror basement attack that has left cops in shock
- Life on the dark side of Tinseltown: Skid Row is revealed in all its decrepit horror as drugs and homelessness take their toll
- Campaigners start White House petition calling for man who raped his girlfriend's baby to death to face public hanging for his crimes
- Hurricane Nicole forms off Bermuda in the Atlantic and could be absorbed by Matthew as they cross paths
- Warren Beatty calls transgender son Stephen 'my hero' and reveals he went on a 'soulful' walk with Marilyn Monroe the night before she died
- 'Everyone you know is dead... your kids die too': Fox News host Shep Smith under fire for VERY ominous broadcasts as Hurricane Matthew hits Florida
- EXCLUSIVE: America's enemies within - SIXTY-TWO ISIS attackers and 'plotters' in just a year and more than half of them are immigrants or their children
- From Paradise Island to holiday from hell: Honeymooners film their luxury Bahamas hotel being ripped to shreds by Hurricane Matthew as storm leaves hundreds dead and homes flattened across the Caribbean
- MOST READ IN DETAIL
First for the Army as soldier weds his groom on base: Air Vice Marshal does the honours as gay couple tie the knot in Cyprus
Sergeant Alastair Smith (centre) married civilian Aaron Weston (left) on British forces territory in Dhekilia, Cyprus in what is believed to be the first gay wedding (inset) on a UK overseas military base. The marriage - which took place on September 10 - was approved and officiated by Air Vice Marshal Mike Wigston (right), the commander and administrator of the Army's sovereign base area. Sgt Smith, 36, said he was 'overjoyed' to celebrate the occasion surrounded by friends, family and infantry colleagues.
We get it Tony, you're a big boy! Blair manspreads for a magazine as he hints at comeback to prevent Britain becoming a 'one-party state'
Tony Blair today indicates he is planning a dramatic return to front line politics to prevent Britain becoming a 'one-party state'. In an extraordinary interview with Esquire magazine, the former Prime Minister acknowledges he is deeply unpopular in Britain in the wake of the Iraq war. But he says he is 'very motivated' to try and save the brand of centre-left politics which saw him win three elections, but which has now been abandoned by Labour. In a withering attack on Jeremy Corbyn, he brands him a member of the 'ultra- Left' which 'believes that the action on the street is as important as the action in Parliament'.
Green light for fracking! Government says controversial mining process CAN go ahead in Lancashire
Attack of the drones! New Star Wars flying toys which can hit 50mph top the list of children's must-haves this Christmas
Toy store Hamleys has predicted what it expects to be the top 10 sellers this festive season, including a new range of Star Wars drones (pictured main and inset) that can fly at speeds of 50mph and shoot lasers. The £25 Pieface Showdown is already a hit on social media, with posts abounding of youngsters enjoying a face full of cream. Meanwhile, the fourth edition of the BeanBoozled spinner game, also £25, will have players risking eating jelly beans flavoured to taste like rotten fish and spoiled milk.
WESTMINSTER TODAY
- Diane Abbott is made shadow home secretary as Jeremy Corbyn launches his reshuffle by promoting FOUR women - but he started with a brutal sacking of chief whip Rosie Winterton
- George Osborne plans a book on how to fix the 'Age of Unreason' by using his lessons from 'victory and defeat'
- Corbyn goes on HOLIDAY and buys his wife a woolly jumper as Theresa May sets out her plans to steal Labour voters (and then he brands her plans to protect British workers 'xenophobic')
Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell who played Zoe Tate for 16 years is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer - as her partner races against time to raise funds for last chance treatment in Germany
Fans of Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell who played Zoe Tate have rallied to her support after it was announced she has terminal lung cancer. Her partner Jez Hughes is raising funds to send her for desperate treatment in Germany. So far £2,547 in donations have been pledged from a £50,000 target. Writing on Facebook he said: 'Hi all. So it's been an incredibly tough month as my beloved partner and soul mate, Ali/ Leah, was rushed to hospital 5 weeks ago. Luckily they were able to drain a litre of fluid from around her heart which saved her life. Unfortunately the diagnosis for the problem that caused the fluid build up was lung cancer, stage 4, what the doctors call 'terminal.' Mr Hughes said Zoe has been a 'wonderful mother of two, loving partner and daughter'.
Till dress do us part! Couple celebrate their 50th anniversary by wearing the same outfits they wore on their wedding day... and they still fit
Carole-Ann, 71, and Jim Stanfield, 74, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by wearing the same outfits they wore on their wedding day. Despite it being half a century since they last wore their outfits Carole-Ann and James were shocked to discover they still fitted perfectly. Pictured: The couple on their big day (left) and their golden wedding anniversary (right).
Two-month-old baby boy died of extensive brain damage after being 'shaken by his father' and abused since he was just two weeks old, court told
Eden Robinson's lifeless body was found by paramedics lying on his side in the bedroom of his father Easton Robinson's flat on November 8, 2014. A neighbour living on the floor above reported hearing a 'bang' from the 39-year-old's Nottingham home and 'a sound of anguish and frustration' just minutes before an ambulance was phoned. Robinson, who a jury heard was looking after his son during the fatal collapse, is on trial at Nottingham Crown Court where he denies murder. ...read
The moped mugger who snatched 21 phones in just ONE hour: Prolific thief stole mobiles from pedestrians' hands as they walked down the street
Cavell Hutson (inset), 21, from Highbury New Park in London, and an accomplice went on an hour-long theft spree where they snatched 21 mobile phones (left and right). They used a moped, with another vehicle's registration plate, to speed away quickly from their victims. They stole 10 phones in Camden, five in Westminster, three in Islington, three in Hackney and one in Tower Hamlets. The incidents took place on September 3, between 1pm and 2pm and sparked a police chase through London.
There's even room for the pickled shark! Street of industrial buildings turned into artist Damien Hirst's latest gallery is named best new building in Britain
Newport Street Gallery transformed most of a south London street that faces a railway line in Vauxhall into a free public gallery under the direction of Caruso St John Architects, who have picked up the coveted 2016 RIBA Stirling Prize trophy for their work. The most prestigious prize in UK architecture is now in its 21st year - and at a ceremony in central London, the award went to the gallery that renovated the row of Victorian warehouses, previously used as carpentry and scenery painting workshops for West End theatres. Also pictured, Hirst admires a sculpture, Play-Doh 1994-2014, by Jeff Koons (to the right) at the Newport Street Gallery.
WATCH: TODAY'S TOP NEWS VIDEOS
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NASA SHOWS HURRICANE MATTHEW AS IT HITS...
NASA cameras from space show Hurricane Matthew as it hits Haiti's southern tip.play video
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CLOWN GETS PUMMELED WHEN HE TRIES TO...
A creepy clown tried to scare the wrong people by blocking their car, but the...play video
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TURBULENT FLIGHT TAKES TERRIFYING TRIP...
Take a first hand look into the eye of the storm as a crew flies through the...play video
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WARNING: MOMENT MINNESOTA POLICE SHOOT...
Witness the moment Minnesota police shoot St. Cloud mall attacker Dahir Adan....play video
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FOOLISH SURFERS TAKE TO THE SEA AHEAD OF...
Residents and even tourists have continued to venture towards South Florida...play video
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MINNESOTA POLICE RELEASE SURVEILLANCE...
Minnesota authorities release surveillance video of St. Cloud mall attack...play video
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WHALE CALF FREES MOTHER AFTER BEING...
Whale calf frees mother after being trapped on sandbank off North Stradbroke...play video
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HURRICANE MATTHEW RIPS ROOF OFF OF THIS...
Watch Hurricane Matthew blow the roof off of this house in the Bahamas.play video
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MOMENT MONSTROUS PYTHON DEVOURS A DOG IN...
The large python is seen trying to eat a 10-year-old female dog. Officials...play video
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RAW VIDEO OF A DESERTED DAYTONA BEACH...
Raw video of a deserted Daytona Beach due to Hurricane Matthew. Three hours...play video
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FRIGHTENING EEL LAUNCHES ATTACK ON DIVER...
The eel engages in an intense fight with an octopus and suddenly launches a...play video
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LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPTURE THE STORM AS IT...
Strong winds captured moments ago by law enforcement along Jensen Beach...play video
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BIZARRE FOOTAGE CLAIMS TO SHOW REAL LIFE...
Bizarre footage filmed in Russia claims to show a 'teleportation'. A person can...play video
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DINOSAURS PARTYING ON THE BEACH IN...
Dinosaurs partying on the beach in Florida during Hurricaneplay video
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AERIALS SHOW THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE...
Aerials show the devestating aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti.play video
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ADORABLE DOG RUSHES TO PROTECT BABY FROM...
Adorable dog rushes to protect baby from hair dryer noiseplay video
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NASA SHOWS HURRICANE MATTHEW AS IT HITS...
NASA cameras from space show Hurricane Matthew as it hits Haiti's southern tip.play video
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CLOWN GETS PUMMELED WHEN HE TRIES TO...
A creepy clown tried to scare the wrong people by blocking their car, but the...play video
THE WORLD AT A GLANCE
EXCLUSIVE: 'I had to hold her again': Syrian baby girl pulled ALIVE from the rubble is reunited with the tearful hero who touched the hearts of millions
Abu Kifah, beamed with happiness and pride after travelling for hours through the dusty Syrian landscape to a patch of farmland Wahida Ma'artouk's family now calls home (left, the rescuer and toddler together). Footage (right) of Kifah pulling the then-30-day-old baby from the wreckage of her bombed home went around the world and reduced a veteran BBC presenter to tears. 'I carried her in my arms again and the night of the rescue came back to me,' Kifah told MailOnline after their reunion. But it was not without sorrow. Since their home was reduced to rubble, allegedly by Russian or Syrian warplanes, Wahida's parents were forced to move the baby girl (inset, in Idlib) and her brother Zakaria to a rough patch of farmland where they survive on even less than before.
WORLD NEWS
- EXCLUSIVE: 'I had to hold her again': Syrian baby girl pulled ALIVE from the rubble is reunited with the tearful hero who touched the hearts of millions
- UN warns that rebel-held eastern Aleppo will be completely destroyed by Christmas as Russia boasts their military campaign has demonstrated the 'effectiveness' of its bombs
- At least 10 people are injured when bomb attached to a motorcycle explodes outside a police station in Istanbul
- Haiti after the hurricane: At least 69 people killed in the Caribbean as thousands of homes are destroyed by Matthew
- Angela Merkel says Britain CANNOT be given access to the EU market if it limits immigration as it will lead to a 'free-for-all' in Europe
- Treasure hunters say they are close to finding £50 BILLION Nazi treasure left behind by Hitler's forces as they fled Czech town in 1945
- ISIS recruits are mostly well educated and wealthy, the terror group's files reveal - with those who were unemployed most likely to become suicide bombers
- Is THIS Putin's secret holiday home...? 'Russian chief's country retreat has a grass roof to hide it from the West's spy satellites, helicopter pad... and even affordable IKEA-style furniture'
- Is THIS Putin's secret holiday home...? 'Russian chief's country retreat has a grass roof to hide it from the West's spy satellites, helicopter pad... and even affordable IKEA-style furniture'
- The valley of abandoned dogs: Dozens of unwanted pets struggle to survive in remote Turkish mountain pass being used as a dumping ground by callous owners
- Italy has the highest proportion of youths living with parents in the world... and more than half of 15-29 year old Americans and Brits still haven't flown the nest
- Mystery of Flight 455: Forty years on questions remain about whether the CIA was behind the bombing of a Cuban passenger jet in which 73 people died
- Norway announces it will ban Islamic veil from schools and universities
- Poland REJECTS total ban on abortion following huge protests
- Age really IS just a number! Charming photographs capture Tokyo's elderly residents... including a sake-drinking bar owner and shellfish divers
- Dazzling images reveal the beauty of Iran's holy buildings and how they have changed from the first ever humble mosque
- Police shoot 'Arabic ex-soldier' in the leg after he stabs two officers in Belgium's 'hotbed of jihad' in suspected terror attack before Brussels train station is evacuated
- ISIS slaughter 36 people at Kurdish wedding - including the groom's family - by firing at guests until they ran out of bullets and then detonating explosive vests
- Suffocated on the squalid boats they dreamt would take them to new lives: Dozens of migrants are found dead in a crowded vessel after cruel smugglers crammed 1,000 people - including babies - on board
Wires: Latest Headlines
Mystery of Flight 455: Forty years on questions remain about whether the CIA was behind the bombing of a Cuban passenger jet in which 73 people died
Forty years ago today a Cuban passenger jet trundled down the runway at Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados and took off, climbing into a blue Caribbean sky en route to Jamaica. Two bombs exploded 11 minutes later and all 73 people on the plane were killed. A memorial stands by the sea (pictured, left) overlooking the spot where Flight 455 came down. The DC-8 (similar to the one pictured, top right) was owned by Fidel Castro's regime and 47 of those on board were from Cuba. Cubans divers (bottom right) were sent down to look for the wreckage. But years later questions remain about whether the CIA was involved and there are hopes the thaw in US/Cuban relations will lead to the mystery finally being solved.