Sandy sends shudders through the world's financial epicentre

New York to evacuate 370,000 people, no stock trading, millions to lose electricity in US

Hurricane Sandy grew stronger before dawn today as it churned northward through the Atlantic Ocean en route to what forecasters agreed would be a devastating landfall, possibly within 100 miles of New York City.

At 5 am, the huge storm was producing sustained winds of 85 miles an hour after turning due north, according to the US National Hurricane Center. Officials warned the powerful surge the storm was creating in the ocean, combined with the strong winds, could wreak destruction in the US northeast for days. As many as 10 million people were expected to lose electricity. As the storm bore down on some of the nation’s most densely populated areas, city and state officials went into emergency mode. The New York City subway system and all of the region’s commuter trains and buses were shut down.

 

Mayor Michael R Bloomberg ordered the evacuation of more than 370,000 people in low-lying communities. Warning that the flooding would be “life-threatening,” forecasters and government officials implored residents in the areas designated for evacuation not to try to ride this storm out.

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© 2012 The New York Times News Service