Miami streets turn into rivers as Hurricane Irma blasts Florida

Major streets in Miami have been turned into rivers after flooding caused by the deadly Hurricane Irma which has battered Florida.

The monster storm has left a trail of destruction in its wake, killing at least four in Florida and 28 on the Caribbean - four million have also been left without power.  

Footage of the flooding has been shared on social media: 

One shared footage of a store in downtown Miami “surrounded by a wall of water”.

Brian L Kahn posted a video of a flooded street more than 100 miles from Irma's eye, explaining: “Downtown Miami looks like a watery war zone.”

Brickell Avenue, a main street in Miami’s financial district, located just south from the Miami River, was also hit by flooding. 

'A watery war zone'

Restaurant owner Deme Lomas, speaking from his 35th-floor apartment, told Reuters: “We feel the building swaying all the time. It's like being on a ship.”

Disinformation has also been spread online as the storm makes its way up the west coast of Florida, one claimed the below footage showed a part of “Miami downtown underwater”.

However, many Twitter users responded by pointing out it is Brickell Key, near the mouth of the Miami River, where water always runs through. 

Miami-Dade Police Department warned members of the public to stay indoors before Irma hit, adding that numerous arrests have been made for looting.   

Assistant Miami fire chief, Pete Gomez, told the Miami Herald: “This is why we evacuated people from that area.

“It’s obviously in a flood zone, an evacuation zone and you’re seeing it.”

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