Miami (AFP)

Hurricane Dorian was still strengthening in the Caribbean after passing north of Puerto Rico, while the Bahamas and the US state of Florida, where the state of emergency was declared, are expected to rise on its way soon. .

According to the latest point from the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 15:00 GMT Thursday, Dorian, which is still a hurricane category one out of the five that counts the Saffir-Simpson scale, was carrying winds at 140 km / h.

Dorian's eye was 355 kilometers north of Puerto Rico and 600 kilometers east of the Bahamas as the hurricane moved northwest at a speed of 20 km / h.

It is expected to hit Florida at the end of the weekend and pour rain with an accumulation of 10 to 20 centimeters.

The NHC recalls that it must strengthen and become a "major" hurricane (category 3 or higher, with winds at least 178 km / h) in the coming days.

"All Floridians should have prepared a plan - do not wait until it's too late!" Warned Ron DeSantis, the state's governor. "You should have enough food, water and medicine to last seven days," he said during a press conference.

As a result, Floridians began to flock to some supermarkets and gas stations.

"There was a horrible tail in Costco," one of the largest hypermarket chains in the country, said Cristina Grand, a 55-year-old Miami resident.

- Threat "already passed" -

With Monday being a holiday due to Labor Day, the extended weekend that comes to an end of summer is traditionally an opportunity for Americans to travel.

For now, the sky above the famous Florida beaches, tourist destinations of reference, remained well blue.

"It looks like Hurricane Dorian is going to hit Florida late Sunday night, be prepared and please, follow the instructions of the state (of Florida, Ed) and the federal government, it will be a very big hurricane, maybe one of the biggest, "tweeted President Donald Trump Thursday morning.

In Puerto Rico, schools and local governments were scheduled to reopen on Thursday, as the US governor said the threat was "already over."

The mayor of the capital San Juan, who has severely criticized the Trump administration's response to hurricane Maria in 2017, responded on Twitter.

"Now that Dorian is heading to the East Coast, let's hope Donald Trump puts aside his prejudices and racism and makes sure that the federal response is effective." I hope we will not see any insulting references to the people of Florida, "she wrote, referring to Donald Trump's many bitter comments about Puerto Rico's management of US federal aid.

© 2019 AFP