Hurricane Wilma forces evacuation. Mexico, Cuba and Florida have ordered tens of thousands of people to leave areas threatened by a major hurricane.
Hurricane Wilma, a powerful Category Four storm, has winds of 150mph
At one stage, Wilma was the strongest hurricane ever recorded, and the US National Hurricane Center has warned it remains "potentially catastrophic".
At 9am gmt on 20th Oct , the centre of the hurricane was about 195 miles (315km) south-east of Cozumel, Mexico.
Forecasters say the hurricane presents a "significant threat" to Florida, which it is expected to hit this weekend.
At one stage, the storm measured the lowest barometric pressure on record in the Atlantic basin - a measure of its strength.
Officials in Florida Keys island chain have ordered visitors and non-residents to leave immediately.
About 80,000 residents are expected to be asked to leave.
Wilma could "cause tremendous damage and loss of life if we're not careful," said Hurricane Center director Max Mayfield.
"The storm surge and the wave action will be tremendous with this hurricane, given the intensity and the size."
Wilma is the record-tying 12th hurricane of the season, the same number reached in 1969.
The areas threatened by the new hurricane are still recovering from the devastation caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.