Florida braces for ‘devastating’ Hu rricane Milton

Hello. Hurricane Milton can be seen from space drawing closer to the Florida coast. With US President Joe Biden saying it could be the worst to hit the state for 100 years, we ask what to expect. Meanwhile, Anna Holligan reports on a plea from Interpol for public help to identify 46 women murdered in Europe decades ago. And have satellite images revealed a new Chinese naval base in Cambodia?

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Milton: Florida's worst storm in 100 years?

President Biden said evacuation was a 'matter of life and death'. Credit: Reuters

US President Joe Biden has said Hurricane Milton could be the worst storm to hit Florida in over a century, warning of a potentially "devastating" 15ft storm surge when it arrives in the city of Tampa. The city's mayor has said it could be like "something you only really see in the movies".

When will Milton hit land?

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) expects Milton to make landfall as an "extremely dangerous hurricane" in the US state of Florida on Wednesday night, local time. It could strike near the city of Tampa, whose wider metropolitan area has a population of more than three million people. Forecasters are warning of torrential rain, flash flooding, high winds and possible storm surges - which occur when water moves inland from the coast.

How strong is it?

After causing sustained wind gusts of 200mph (321km/h), Milton was placed in the most powerful hurricane category - five - though it has fluctuated in strength, and was subsequently downgraded to a category four. While it dropped in intensity on Tuesday, officials have warned that it could double in size before striking Florida on Wednesday.

What is a category five hurricane?

Category five hurricanes are considered "catastrophic" by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa). With wind speeds greater than 155mph (249km/h) they can cause "very severe and extensive damage". Noaa urges "massive evacuations" in residential areas near shorelines. Affected areas can be left uninhabitable for weeks or months.

Nasa astronaut Matthew Dominick has shared an incredible timelapse video of Hurricane Milton, filmed from space at about 14:45 BST. For more updates, follow our live reporting.

THE BIG PICTURE

Is this a Chinese naval base in Cambodia?

Two Chinese type A56 corvettes have been docked at Ream for most of this year. Credit: BlackSky

Two grey shapes visible in satellite images of Cambodia’s Ream naval base seem to confirm US fears that China's military footprint is expanding. Beijing has seized and fortified three islands in the South China Sea, and has an overseas base in Djibouti, reports Jonathan Head. But it will need a network of bases to realise its ambition of becoming a global military power.

And finally... in the Netherlands

The LAM museum in Lisse had to pick artwork out of the bin after a lift technician thought that the display was leftover rubbish. To be fair to him, the piece called All The Good Times We Spent Together consists of two empty, dented beer cans. Take a look.