Heavy rains and strong winds are battering the US coast as Hurricane Ivan is about to hit land. Photo by AFP
Hurricane Ivan, one of the strongest on record, is threatening to spread across the American states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana simultaneously. The giant storm has already prompted heavy rains and strong winds at the US coast, and two people were killed in Florida by tornadoes. Ivan was downgraded to four after being ranked level five, an indication for the most dangerous storms. More than 60 people died as it swept over the Caribbean, Cuba and the Cayman Islands.