Evacuations have been ordered as the US East Coast braces for Hurricane Florence – in what may be the strongest storm to hit the region in decades.

South Carolina’s governor ordered the evacuation of its entire coastline while North Carolina and Virginia have declared states of emergency.

Officials say Florence is now a category four storm with 130mph (195km/h) winds, and gaining strength.

It is expected to strike the Carolinas by Thursday.

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Florence – which was 1,200 miles (2,000km) southeast of Cape Fear, North Carolina, on Monday morning – started the day as a category two storm.