WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency on Friday as the tropical storm Erika heads toward the US state from the Caribbean.
"Tropical Storm Erika is traversing the northeastern Caribbean Sea with maximum sustained winds of fifty miles per hour," Scott said in a statement. "Because of the foregoing conditions, I declare that a state of emergency exists in every county within the state of Florida."
On the Caribbean island of Dominica, officials told local media that the storm had claimed some 25 lives. At least 20 are missing on the Lesser Antilles Island and many homes were destroyed, according to media reports.
The National Weather Service has also issued an advisory for the tropical storm Erika as it moves through the Eastern Pacific region towards Florida, now moving quickly over Cuba.
