Storm forces evacuation of part of NYC

New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has declared a state of emergency and ordered the mandatory evacuation of a section of the city to protect citizens from Hurricane Irene.

According to AFP, the zone is home to over 250,000 people, and includes parts of the financial district in Lower Manhattan as well as sections along the Hudson and East rivers.

The subway and bus system -- the city’s lifeline -- is also going to be closed from Saturday to Monday, which will paralyze the city since many people in New York do not own a vehicle.

Through the weekend, Irene is expected to hit the barrier islands of North Carolina Saturday afternoon, eventually making its way northward along the coast to Boston and points farther north.

US President Barack Obama has cut short his vacation on the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard.

Source: irib.ir