Hawaii governor calls state of emergency as hurricane Lala expected to pummel Big Island

Hurricane Lala, a Category 1 storm, is approaching Hawaii's Big Island, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and life-threatening flooding. The US National Hurricane Center reported that Lala's maximum sustained winds reached 120 kilometres per hour. A hurricane warning was in effect for Hawaii County, covering the Big Island, while a tropical storm warning was in place for the state's seven other major islands.

The storm is expected to dump 10 to 20 inches of rain on the Big Island, with totals possibly reaching 25 inches, according to the New Straits Times and Hindustan Times. This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain. A storm surge of one to three feet will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves.

Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency to ensure Hawaii and its counties have sufficient resources to prepare for the storm. International travel from two airports, Hilo International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, has been suspended. The Hawaii Department of Transportation also closed the Hawaii Island, Maui County, and Kaua'i commercial ports.

Brief written by urgent.news from CBS News, ABC News AU, New Straits Times, Free Malaysia Today, Hindustan Times - World News — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.