Hurricane Irene has battered the Bahamas on a path forecasters say could threaten the densely populated US North-east, including New York.
It is now a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 miles per hour.
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Officials in the Bahamas say two small southern islands have sustained heavy damage
Irene could strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane, and hit North Carolina on Saturday, churning its way up to New England.