“a r ‘ait ‘ur ‘ait “mitt ‘u15-‘ait “5515 it-‘uc—z w j arrive tuesday night into the early hours of wednesday morning. this is bbc news. the headlines at midday: hurricane irma strengthens as it closes in on florida, where it is expected to make landfall in a matter of hours. over six million people have been ordered to leave their homes. property is replaceable but lives are not, and safety has to come first. don't worry about it, just get out of its way. the real threat is barrelling towards the florida keys. it is expected to hit the lower keys in the next hour. overnight cuba has been battered. there's been significant damage as winds of up to 150 miles per hour hit the country's north coast. at least 25 people have died across the caribbean, including five on the british virgin islands where a major relief effort is getting under way. in mexico at least 90 people are known to have died after thursday's earthquake. also in the next hour:

rohingya muslim rebels in myanmar declare one month unilateral ceasefire. they say their aim is to ease the humanitarian crisis, but there is desperate need for food and water for around 300,000 rohingya muslims refugees. the stars of strictly pay an emotional tribute to the show‘s former host sir bruce forsyth, who died in august at the age of 89. coming up at 1230, the woman fighting for tech recognition. good morning and welcome to bbc news. after battering its way through the caribbean, hurricane irma, currently a category four

storm, is within hours of hitting the us coast. storm, is within hours of the storm made landfall in cuba late on friday, causing widespread damage and leaving whole communities homeless. the hurricane is now inching towards the southern coast of florida, where a huge storm surge is expected. water levels are already flooding roads in the florida keys and more than 200,000 people have lost power. 0ver six million people, almost a third of the state's population, had been urged to evacuate, but the state governor told residents yesterday, it's now too late for anyone remaining to leave. the west coast was supposed to be the safer part of florida as the east prepared to bear the brunt of irma. but now cities like tampa and naples are in the path of a category four hurricane. tampa hasn't seen anything like this since 1921 and is ill—prepared for such a storm. at fort myers, thousands of people crowded into a sports stadium

in a last—minute dash to find somewhere safe. i think we're going to be staying here for two nights, maybe three. they really don't know where the storm is going to go exactly, so we have no way of knowing. we are all waiting for it to start and end. irma could shift course again. hurricanes are notorious for sudden wobbles. but the giant system is already too close to make much difference. this is a deadly, major storm and our state has never seen anything like it. millions of floridians will see major hurricane impacts with deadly, deadly, deadly storm surge. meanwhile, the low—lying keys were being menaced by a life—threatening storm surge of up to 15 feet as it moved relentlessly towards the mainland. tornado watchers were also in place. in miami there was a collective sigh of relief. the city looks likely to escape the deadly cone. but hurricane force winds

are still expected through sunday. an estimated 75,000 people are now thought to be taking refuge in shelters. 0ver six million have been asked to leave their homes in the biggest evacuation in the history of florida. the entire state is expected to suffer. the only question now is how much. jane 0'brien, bbc news, miami. president trump has echoed the calls for residents to seek shelter. this is a storm of enormous destructive power, and we ask everyone in the storm's path to heed all instructions, get out of its way. government officials, i know you're working so hard, you'll never work like this, and i appreciate also your bravery. property is replaceable but lives are not. safety has to come first. don't worry about it, just get out of its way. cbs correspondent meg 0liver is in miami, where the outer bands

of hurricane are already having an impact. we are seeing these are stronger softwa re we are seeing these are stronger software that are coming in. we are on the outer brands of hurricane irma. the real threat is barrelling towards the florida keys. it is expected, the eye of the storm is expected, the eye of the storm is expected to hit the lower keys in the next hour. it will be there for hours before moving north towards the florida peninsula and up the west coast. this is a massive storm that will span the entire florida pensioner. in the may army area, we will see a increased threat to —— of connectors. this is a storm surge of up connectors. this is a storm surge of up to succeed. if our stores to flood into a building or your home, you have to get to get a higher

elevation. —— if that starts to flood your building. just tell us about the stories, millions have been on the move, haven't they? that's right, more than half a million people have been on the move. here in south florida, especially miami, we have been preparing for days. authorities have been telling people to get on the road out of harms way. that hasn't been the case on the east coast. this hurricane has shifted dramatically in the last 2a hours. now people along the west coast, naples, st petersburg, tampa, they fight to prepare in the last 2a hours, they had tipped the road. —— they have had to prepare. it's been a massive evacuation, one for the history books. tell us a bit about that. florida is no stranger to hurricanes. this is hurricanes

season. hurricanes. this is hurricanes season. this is the worst for years. that's right. when talking about irma, they typically don't evacuate, people in the florida keys. i was speaking to somebody yesterday that said they typically have hurricane parties and right out the storm. this was so bad that everybody has been forced to leave, fire department, police officers, set and risky. there are still people that are risky. there are still people that a re left risky. there are still people that are left in the keys, they are hunkered down in high schools, etc. typically, they lived through these and try to stay in their homes. this one was just too big, category five barrelling towards florida. forecasters said they are guaranteed an opportune florida has ever experienced anything like this. ——

guaranteeing nobody in florida. 0uron 0ur on bbc weather presenter louise lear has the latest on the storm's trajectory. bummer ravaged for the cuban coast for 2h bummer ravaged for the cuban coast for 2a was. that weakened the storm. its strengthened back to a category four. it's a devastating hurricane. it is huge. it's already having an impact on florida keys. it is expected to make landfall here in the next 2a brits. there is still a bit of uncertainty as to where the banquet is likely to make landfall. extensive heavy rain, we are looking at damaging gusts of wind. this huge storm surge. 0nce at damaging gusts of wind. this huge storm surge. once we see it moving through, the wind driving in that

water along the low—lying coastal areas. major issue, pushing its way steadily northwards and weakening considerably. still a lot of heavy rain butjust considerably. still a lot of heavy rain but just take considerably. still a lot of heavy rain butjust take a look atjose, still in the western atlantic. at the moment, it is expected to be king of the next couple of days. it is likely to sit your pretty next 4-5 is likely to sit your pretty next 11—5 days. we can't rule it out. there is the potential that it greatly intensify and start to head west. chip caster is a senior forecaster. he's booked as a short time ago. he gave us the latest situation. we have a large and dangerous hurricane approaching the florida keys. we have hurricane

louise —— hurricane irma. it has maximum sustained winds of 130 miles an. its alert system. the core of the beginners approaching the lower —— the core of the hurricane is approaching the lower florida keys. these are islands. the communities here are very fundable. —— very foreign double. we are encouraging anybody that hasn't escaped to hunker down. what will be the most serious effects on the people there of the hurricane? hurricane force, wind gusts throughout the florida keys writer. these will increase as the core of crosswords. —— as the

quorum of spot with. perhaps wind gusts up to argent 20 miles an. these were intended to read as damage. —— can do tremendous damage. most people who die in hurricanes do so most people who die in hurricanes do so from drowning in the storm surge. we are expecting 5—10 feet of water inundation floating above ground level. the florida keys are very low—lying and this is a dire situation. we hope people can hang in there if they are left in these communities and hunker down and try to survive in the next four to six overs. “— to survive in the next four to six overs. —— to six hours. to survive in the next four to six overs. -- to six hours. what about the rest of florida? what is the latest rejection as to where irma will head? —— projection here.

latest rejection as to where irma will head? -- projection here. irma is going northwards. much of the peninsula will experience hurricane oi’ peninsula will experience hurricane or tropical storm conditions. especially on the west coast. the dual threat of wind and storm search. it will move along florida and what then? is it likely to hit carolina, georgia? and what then? is it likely to hit carolina, georgia ? what's and what then? is it likely to hit carolina, georgia? what's the projection or is it expected to loosen strength? the forecast is for weakening as it moves north. the particles north and then north north—westward, towards the handle and did it so. —— and the deep south. this is the scene in miami right now. this is filmed from a

ca rd right now. this is filmed from a card from reuters news agency. they have been driving around miami. it is heading towards miami beach. you canjust is heading towards miami beach. you can just see how‘ and strong thousands are. miami is likely to escape the worst of hurricane irma. some of the worst is pretty much hitting the florida keys writer. these are low—lying areas just south of florida. the keys, the northern ireland will of hurricane irma, is 110w ireland will of hurricane irma, is now 15 miles south—east of key west. —— the northern eye wall. some people are already being hit by the hurricane. they feel they would

rather stay with the properties only. we have heard that the state authorities have ordered evacuation of millions of residents from homes and properties. this is the scene in miami right now. meanwhile cuba is counting the cost after the storm battered its north coast. the government says it caused significant damage and cut off power to large areas. more than a million cubans were evacuated and there are reports of villages being engulfed by storm surges, with whole communities left homeless. we can talk now on the phone to british travellers studies in cuba on his honeymoon. thank you for being with us. where exactly in cuba are you and what has been your experience? good morning. we are in the northwest cuba. last night was

difficult for everyone. 100 to wrists were in a games room. the storm is worse than expected, we we re storm is worse than expected, we were here for 1h hours with no air conditioning. it was a hard day for everybody involved. 1am, the storm subsided. about 3am we managed to get into our rooms. we woke up three hours later to our ruan —— to our ruan pienaar an inch deep in water. the glass and total patio doors hasn't kept up the rain so as i say it is about an inch deep in our

room. this is so hot doctors. we took some pictures which we are going to show. —— it is so hot downstairs. you are describing how to do that was. are you going to stay? we have no idea. no idea when oui’ stay? we have no idea. no idea when ourflights. it was destroyed in the high of the storm. at the moment, no idea when we are getting on. you are on honeymoon there. not an ideal place to be at the moment for a honeymoon. no, we are slightly aggrieved because we have suffered an evacuation here which was a hardship for all involved. this was an eight—hourjourney for all involved. this was an eight—hour journey to get for all involved. this was an eight—hourjourney to get here, arriving at midnight on a coach, so

it's been a moving to one location to this location, pretty much it. by the storm last night. in an under conditions, it was a real hardship. who do you blame for that? the cuban authorities? who do you blame for moving you to the wrong place? we are... we showed a hotel with the canadians. expenditure to we were left pretty much not knowing what was happening until thursday, when we we re was happening until thursday, when we were ushered on those cultures and driven eight hours. we were put into the eye of the storm. sorry if

i such a terrible experience on your honeymoon. —— sorry you've had such a terrible. at least five people are known to have died in the british virgin islands as a result of hurricane irma. our correspondent, laura bicker, is there and sent this update. we have just flown over the virgin islands and i can tell you that some of the devastation is very difficult to witness. houses look like they have been blown apart. 0nce prized possessions now scattered and in ruins. you can see the effects of that 20 foot storm surge. boats lie littered around the islands. where they have been moored together, they have crashed and been sent flying into pieces. there has been criticism here of the british government's response to this crisis. i can tell you that the royal army engineers are here. they are assessing this runway as a priority and that is because they need to get aid in and people out. there has also been concern about looting but i am told by the deputy governor that they are trying to get things under control. there is still a lot

of work to do here. laura bicker reporting. the uk government is deploying extra troops to help the relief effort in the caribbean. engineers have now completed work on the airport runway in the british virgin islands to allow the first aid flight to land there. a command headquarters will also be set up. the defence secretary, sir michael fallon, has dismissed criticism of the uk government's response to hurricane irma. speaking on the andrew marr programme, mr fallon said it wasn't true that his government's response had been slower than other countries. there has been a security issue there, which is why we are prioritising getting armed troops in to strengthen the local police force. the island has been devastated, it has been difficult for people to move around and to get helicopters there, but there are troops to ensure law and order is maintained. but there have been voices from there and from parliament that has said our response has been too

slow, slower than france and holland. that is not true, the french did not have any kind of ship like mounts bay. they had a couple of frigates there. they have the advantage of having troops, they garrison their overseas territory, so that troops were already in addition. —— in position. we have local police forces on these islands, but our response has been as good as anybody else's. i can tell you that the french have asked for our assistance in lifting troops and material to some of their islands. we have two to three flights going out each day bringing more and there is plenty more on hurricane irma on our website: bbc.co.uk/news. sport now, and a full round up from the bbc sport centre.

sir mo farah has won the great north run for a record breaking fourth time in a row... the four time olympic champion took the lead in the half marathon distance with 200 metres to go and crossed the line in south shields in a time of one hour and six seconds. farah retired from the track last month to concentrate on road racing, and after a couple of weeks since his last track race, he says his lack of training definitely had an impact. it was definitely telling, four miles to go i was gritting my teeth. i managed to believe in myself and dig deep. i was thinking, if i can just sit on it at the end i can sprint. the women's race was won by mary keitany of kenya in a time of 1:05:59. she controlled the race from start to finish — in what was her third victory. simon lawson won men's wheelchair race and manuela shar the women's.

and coverage of the race — featuring over 43,000 people — continues on the bbc sports website and bbc one. this is the 37th running of the race. chris froome is set to win cycling's vuelta a espana for the first time this afternoon and with it become only the third rider to win that and the tour de france in the same year. today's stage is largely a procession into madrid. having finished as runner—up on three occasions, froome called victory an incredible feeling. it is obviously moments like this now that makes all the sacrifices, all the time away from home, from my family, it is moments like these that make it all worth it. obviously it is emotional. it is such an incredible feeling. from the spanish capital to the welsh one today, two games in the premier league

today. crystal palace have lost all of their matches this season and haven't scored a single goal. we know what we want, everybody is very disappointed in our result, but we also know this is not a one—day project. it's for the long—term. everybody knows you cannot expect suddenly that we're going to win every game. swansea city hosts newcastle united in the late kick—off. it's a new player for them. peter and on other office because his two sons are massive swa nsea fa ns. because his two sons are massive swansea fans. —— he turned down other offers. it's like family. when you feel better than ever. your

mind, physically, everything is clear on front of you. when your family goes outside, you see them in their faces that they enjoy it. it's nothing better than this. that's all the sport for now. bbc one for the great north run. you can keep up to date on the bbc sport website. two of the five men arrested as part of an investigation into the far—right group, national action, have been released without charge. on tuesday, the five, which included four serving soldiers, were detained in a joint operation involving the police and the army. national action was banned after a white supremacist murdered the labour mp, jo cox. there's been a sharp increase in the number of people known to have been killed by thursday's major earthquake in mexico. the number now stands at about 90, more than 70 of them in the state of oaxaca alone. aaron safir reports. clearing the rubble injuchitan in southern mexico, the town worst hit by thursday's earthquake.

rescuers have told the bbc they don't believe there is anyone left under the 7000 buildings that collapsed here. and while the machines, men and sniffer dogs continue their work, others continue to bury their dead. at least 36 people are reported to have been killed here. among them, this man's son. translation. he didn't have time to get out and the building completely collapsed. it was very old, over 200 years old, and unfortunately out of the seven people who were inside, only four were able to be rescued. the other three unfortunately died. tabasco, chiapas and oaxaca states are among mexico's poorest and least developed. the earthquake that hit them was the most powerful anywhere in the world since 2015. 8.1 in magnitude. tremors were felt in mexico city, some 500 miles away. the earthquake was deep so the shaking felt on the surface was less strong than it would have been for a shallower one. that's little comfort

for these people picking up the pieces in juchitan. one in three houses are affected and thousands of families have lost their homes. food and water are scarce and parts of the city don't have electricity. the hundreds of after—shocks felt since thursday have left people fearful. translation: a lot of people are sleeping on the streets because they fear another quake, because they fear the after—shocks that have been happening continuously, and it's a very ugly fear that we're experiencing. the authorities say tens of thousands of ration packs, blankets and cleaning kits are arriving to help the recovery efforts, but for the homeless and bereaved of southern mexico, it is help that can't come soon enough and will only be the first step in rebuilding their lives. aaron safir, bbc news. at least five people have died after violent rainstorms swept through the italian region of tuscany early this morning. the port city of livorno has taken the brunt of the flooding,

as over a foot of rainfall over four hours is said to have transformed streets into rivers and washed away cars. the city's mayor says he fears disaster. italy's civil protection service has issued a code orange alert for florence as the storms, which began in northern italy overnight, sweep down the country. underpasses are being closed as a precaution in the capital rome. rohingya muslim rebels in myanmar have declared a unilateral one—month ceasefire, saying they want to ease the humanitarian crisis in the country. rebel attacks on security forces triggered a two—week military campaign, during which nearly 300,000 rohingyas fled to neighbouring bangladesh. soldiers have been accused of carrying out killings and burning villages. our correspondent sanjoy majumder has been following what's happening in bangladesh. the arakan rohingya salvation army is the group that carried out last month a series of coordinated attacks on 25 police

boats and an army base inside myanmar‘s rakhine state. it led to a military crackdown which in turn has prompted tens of thousands of rohingya muslim refugees to flee for their lives and come across the border into bangladesh, where i am now. the militant group has put out a statement on its twitter handle saying it was suspending what it described as its military operations to enable humanitarian aid to reach the affected area. it has also asked the myanmar authorities to reciprocate the gesture. we have had no response as yet from the myanmar government. we understand over the last couple of days that they have been laying land mines along the border. amnesty international has put out a statement saying they have seen evidence including photographs as well as speaking to victims of landmine attacks which appear to suggest these are fresh landmines, anti—personnel landmines, which have been placed along the border apparently to prevent muslim refugees from leaving or re—entering myanmar. we have been along the border

ourselves and spoken to villagers and the border police who appear to corroborate this fact. the un is increasingly concerned about the conditions in which the refugees who have come over to bangladesh from myanmar find themselves in. there is an urgent shortage of food and medicine as well as adequate shelter. the un now says it needs $77 million in urgent assistance to come to the aid of those who have come here. it up to 1230 pm. as just tell you about strictly come dancing. the 15th series of strictly begun last night. the celebrity co ntesta nts last night. the celebrity contestants were matched with the professional partners and tributes we re professional partners and tributes were paid to sir bruce. everybody

missed dearly. what a routine. he would have loved that. our thoughts are with his dear wife winnie, his children, grandchildren and great—grandchildren, and everyone, i mean everyone at strictly, is thinking of you. he was a legend to so many people but to us he was brucie and his hard work and dedication and professionalism helped to make the show what it is today. to put it in his own words, didn't he do well? the beth in a minute, but let me tell you, irma is currently hitting the lower florida keys rite now —— the lower florida keys rite now —— the weather in a minute.