Florida: Florida, the southeasternmost state of the US, is facing the first Category Four hurricane to hit the country in 12 years.

Hurricane Matthew has pounded the Bahamas after devastating parts of Haiti.

Damage could be “catastrophic,” Florida’s governor said. Evacuation orders are in place along the coast.

Matthew, with winds of 205 km, is expected to hit southern Florida later on October 6 as a Category Four storm, US officials say.

At least 140 people have been killed in Haiti and thousands displaced, report agencies. The storm has forced the presidential election there to be postponed.

All air and sea traffic has been halted and people urged to move to higher ground because of storm surges.

Hurricane Matthew has been upgraded into a Category Four storm, the second-highest classification.

It is expected “move very close” to the east coast of the Florida peninsula on Thursday night, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

States of emergency have already been declared in four southern states, allowing the National Guard to be deployed. On Thursday afternoon, President Obama declared a state of emergency for Florida, allowing federal emergency teams to be deployed.

Matthew could be the first Category Four storm to make landfall in the United States since Charley in August 2004, that caused US$14bn in southern states.

“There are no excuses, you need to leave,” Florida Governor Rick Scott warned everyone in evacuation zones.

“If you’re reluctant to evacuate, just think of all the people this storm has already killed. You and your family could be among these numbers if you don’t take this seriously.”

“Everyone in our state must prepare now for a direct hit,” Governor Scott told reporters.

“If Matthew directly impacts Florida, the destruction could be catastrophic and you need to be prepared.”

Some two million people have been advised to evacuate across coastal areas of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. North Carolina could also be affected as the storm moves north.

Florida’s history of hurricanes

October 2005: Hurricane Wilma Deaths were reported in Haiti, Mexico, Cuba. Struck Florida as a Category Three, killing five people. South Florida suffered widespread damage.

August 2004: Hurricane Charley Struck Florida as a Category Four, killing nine and causing billions of dollars in property damage

August 1992: Hurricane Andrew Category Five storm struck South Florida, killing 44 and damaging more than 125,000 houses

In many areas cars queued for fuel and residents stocked up on food and hardware supplies to board up their houses, local reports said.