HOUSTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Some coastal areas in the U.S. state of Texas issued voluntary evaluation order on Tuesday as intensified Hurricane Laura moved from the Gulf of Mexico towards the coastline.

Texas' Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a voluntary evacuation effective immediately, saying that "all of us need to be prepared for the very real potential of a direct hit from the storm."

Meanwhile, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is asking people to stay off the roads. "I am asking Houstonians to be off the road by 8:00 p.m. tomorrow if not sooner," he tweeted. "This is a serious event and we should treat it as such."

Earlier, in Texas Galveston, an island along the Gulf Coast, officials encouraged people who live without the protection of the seawall to evacuate. Louisiana coastal areas also issued evacuation orders.

Laura strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday morning as it entered the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. U.S. National Hurricane Center projected Laura is expected to intensify on a path to hit the U.S. coastline late Wednesday or early Thursday as a major category 3 hurricane capable of "devastating" damage.

According to forecast, Laura will hit the coastline in East Texas or West Louisiana with sustained wind speeds of over 160 kilometers per hour.

Although it will weaken quickly after landfall, a swath of heavy rainfall will likely accompany the core of Laura as it moves on Thursday and Friday. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)