Hurricane Milton strengthens to Category 4 amid Florida evacuation preparations

The storm has strengthened to Category 4 (NOAA via AP)

Milton has rapidly strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane as it heads towards population centres in the US state of Florida, including Tampa and Orlando.

The hurricane threatens a dangerous storm surge in Tampa Bay and sets the stage for potential mass evacuations less than two weeks after the catastrophic Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline.