Florida prepares for evacuations as Milton increases to Category 3 hurricane

Hurricane Milton has strengthened to a category 3 storm (NOAA via AP)

Milton has increased to a Category 3 hurricane as the US state of Florida gears up for what could be its biggest evacuation in seven years as the storm heads toward major population centres, including Tampa and Orlando.

The storm was a major hurricane as it moved over the Gulf of Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (193 kph), the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said.