Hurricane Matthew claims 26 lives as it rages on for a direct hit to Florida

Florida residents have been warned to prepare for a “direct hit”, as Hurricane Matthew pounded the Bahamas after devastating parts of Haiti.

Damage could be “catastrophic”, the state governor said. Evacuation orders have been issued along the coast.

Matthew, with winds of 125mph (205km/h), is expected to strengthen and hit Florida as a Category Four storm, US officials say.

It has swept across the Caribbean, with the worst of the damage in Haiti.

At least 23 people have been killed in Haiti and thousands displaced. The storm has forced the presidential election there to be postponed.

Four people were also killed in the neighbouring Dominican Republic.