New York: Thousands evacuated, subways closed down in advance of massive storm

The city is applying precautions ahead of the ‘megastorm’ headed towards the US east coast.

Updated: 17.45

THE MAYOR OF New York has ordered the evacuation of 375,000 residents living in the path of Hurricane Sandy.

Michael Bllomberg has also ordered city schools to remain closed on Monday, ahead of the storm hitting the US east coast.

Earlier, the city’s Governor ordered that all subways are to be shut down at 7pm this evening in anticipation of the advancing storm.

Andrew Cuomo has ordered the New York City transit service to suspend bus, subway and commuter rail services, with rainfall expected to start late Sunday or early Monday morning.

Warnings of potential high winds and flooding prompted New York state officials to close the underground system, CNN reports.

States of emergency have now been declared in eight states. Louis Uccellini, head of environmental prediction for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said that Hurricane Sandy is expected to have an impact on 50 to 60 million people.

Read: US presidential race jolted by looming ‘megastorm’>

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