Jump directly to the content
LATEST
FLORIDA THEME PARK SCARE

Killer Hurricane Matthew forces Legoland and SeaWorld Florida to shut their doors… while Disney and Universal Studios could be next

Theme parks are preparing for 120mph winds of Matthew as it bears down on Florida after wreaking havoc in the Caribbean

FLORIDA'S theme parks are taking no chances in the face of incoming Hurricane Matthew - with several confirming they will close tomorrow.

SeaWorld announced it will close early today before the storm makes landfall tonight and remain shut on Friday.

SeaWorld Florida is among several Theme Parks that have said they will close their doors tomorrow in the face of incoming Hurricane Matthew
9
SeaWorld Florida is among several Theme Parks that have said they will close their doors tomorrow in the face of incoming Hurricane MatthewCredit: Alamy

 

Floridians were warned that the state faced its biggest-ever evacuation ahead of Hurricane Matthew making landfall
9
Floridians were warned that the state faced its biggest-ever evacuation ahead of Hurricane Matthew making landfallCredit: Rex Features
The giant storm has been downgraded to category three as it moves across the Caribbean
9
The giant storm has been downgraded to category three as it moves across the CaribbeanCredit: Rex Features
Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency and urged residents to take precautions against the high winds
9
Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency and urged residents to take precautions against the high windsCredit: AP:Associated Press

Aquatica Water Park and Discovery Cove will be closed both days while LEGOLAND is set to also shut its doors tomorrow.

Universal Studios and DisneyWorld are yet to announce if they will close to the public.

More than 20million people attend SeaWorld last year alone.

Among them are tens of thousands of Brits who could be caught up in the chaos with 1.4million visiting Florida every year.

The state is facing its biggest-ever evacuation with nearly two million people being warned to flee oncoming Hurricane Matthew.

 

related stories

Terrifying skull-shaped satellite image shows deadly Hurricane Matthew preparing to hit US
EVIL EYE OF THE STORM

Terrifying skull-shaped satellite image shows deadly Hurricane Matthew preparing to hit US

Thomas Cook slammed for refusing to evacuate terrified Brits as Hurricane Matthew lashes Caribbean
'WE'VE BEEN LEFT STRANDED'

Thomas Cook slammed for refusing to evacuate terrified Brits as Hurricane Matthew lashes Caribbean

Guantanamo Bay EVACUATED as base prepares to be hit by colossal Hurricane Matthew
TERROR TYPHOON

Guantanamo Bay EVACUATED as base prepares to be hit by colossal Hurricane Matthew

Deadly 80mph Hurricane Hermine claims first victim as it carves a trail of destruction through Florida with Brits caught up in holiday chaos
MEGASTORM MAYHEm

Deadly 80mph Hurricane Hermine claims first victim as it carves a trail of destruction through Florida with Brits caught up in holiday chaos

The category three storm's 120mph winds are bearing down on the state after wreaking havoc in Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Governor Rick Scott warned residents on the coast to get out of the way of the impending winds.

He said: "When you look at this storm as it goes along the East Coast, we’re going to have to prepare every county, so it could be the biggest evacuation ever.

"Every county is focused on it though. We’ve been working on it even before today."

Despite the storm being downgraded from a category five catastrophe, it has still proved fatal, killing at least 16 in the Caribbean.

The storm resembled a skull in incredible satellite images released by NASA
9
The storm resembled a skull in incredible satellite images released by NASACredit: NASA

 

Many continued to stockpile goods ahead of the storm making landfall on Thursday evening
9
Many continued to stockpile goods ahead of the storm making landfall on Thursday eveningCredit: Vantage News
Others prepared their homes for the storm, which some forecasters are predicting will be the biggest to hit the US since Hurricane Katrina more than ten years ago
9
Others prepared their homes for the storm, which some forecasters are predicting will be the biggest to hit the US since Hurricane Katrina more than ten years agoCredit: Rex Features

Many of those are believed to have taken place on Haiti, where severe damage has been reported.

The storm is currently passing over the Bahamas and is expected to hit Florida later tonight before moving on to Georgia and the Carolinas.

Forecasters predict it could be the biggest disaster to hit the country since Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans ten years ago.

More than 1,200 people were killed after the winds destroyed levies protecting the Big Easy, causing devastating flooding.

It has already devastated areas of the Caribbean. Here, local in Haiti assess the damage of the storm on the island
9
It has already devastated areas of the Caribbean. Here, local in Haiti assess the damage of the storm on the islandCredit: Rex Features
Cubans too were badly hit by Matthew before it moved onto the Bahamas this morning
9
Cubans too were badly hit by Matthew before it moved onto the Bahamas this morningCredit: Barcroft Media

Yesterday, panicked Floridians emptied the supermarkets shelves of essentials like bottled water and fuel.

The panic was worsened when the National Hurricane Centre said parts of Florida and George could remain "uninhabitable for weeks".

So far only two counties in Florida have been slapped with compulsory evacuation orders.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368

 

Topics
YOU MIGHT LIKE
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
MORE FOR YOU