Hurricane Irma: Maltese in Florida urged to seek evacuation

The Embassy of Malta in Washington DC has advised Maltese citizens who are in Florida, particularly Miami, to seek evacuation as soon as possible and if it is safe to do so.

“Hurricane Irma is expected to make landfall in Miami over the weekend, and the US authorities are concerned that this may be a deadly storm. Hurricane Irma may also hit the following states: Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina,” the embassy said, in a statement issued through the Maltese ministry for foreign affairs.

“The Embassy of Malta advises strongly to Maltese citizens in this area to strictly and efficiently adhere to instructions and advice provided by US authorities.”

Further information about safety and necessary procedures can be found on the official website of the US Department of Homeland and Security : www.fema.gov.

The Maltese Embassy can be contacted on the following emergency phone: +1 202 716 3921.

Hurricane Irma is one of the strongest storms recorded in the Atlantic.

According to international media reports, at least nine deaths have been reported, four in the French territory of St Martin, three in Puerto Rico, and one in the British overseas territory of Anguilla, as well as a toddler who was killed on the island of Barbuda, which was all but destroyed by the fury of Irma’s 185mph winds and deadly storm surge.

Florida’s governor, Rick Scott, warned that the arrival of Irma’s life-threatening wind field and storm surge was imminent, and urged residents in coastal areas to leave immediately.

Philip Levine, the mayor of Miami Beach, ordered a mandatory evacuation. “This is a nuclear hurricane,” he said. “I’ll do anything in my power to convince them to leave. Get off Miami beach.”