Hurricane Erin forecast to create life-threatening waves along US east coast

People fish along the shore in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, as Hurricane Erin brings rains to the island. Picture: Alejandro Granadillo/AP

Hurricane Erin began pelting parts of the Caribbean with rain and wind before it is expected to churn up dangerous waves and rip currents along the US east coast.

Evacuations were being ordered on islands along North Carolina’s outer banks even though the storm is unlikely to make direct landfall.