BREAKING NEWS

Trump speaks to governors, senators on Irma, approves disaster areas

US President Donald Trump spoke to the governors of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee on Sunday, the White House said, as Hurricane Irma's path moved away from the lower Florida Keys westward to the Gulf Coast and states to the north.

Trump has spoken regularly to Florida Governor Rick Scott and US Senator Marco Rubio, both Republicans, and spoke on Sunday with US Senator Ben Nelson, a Democrat, the White House said.

The Republican president also issued a disaster declaration for Puerto Rico on Sunday and expanded federal funds available to the US Virgin Islands in the aftermath of Irma, the White House said.