Hurricane Ida approaches US coast

Despite being weakened to category one, Ida is still regarded a hurricane by forecasters as it sweeps across the Gulf of Mexico, taking aim at the United States.

Ida's maximum sustained winds are 80 mph (130 kph), with higher gusts, the National Hurricane Center said on Monday, reported CNN.

Emergency authorities have issued a hurricane warning for the US Gulf coast from Mississippi Florida. A tropical storm warning was also in effect for sections of the Florida.

"Whether Ida maintains a storm or loses tropical characteristics, the Florida Gulf Coast region has the potential to see several inches of rain, strong winds, isolated tornadoes, and dangerous surf and coastal flooding," said Florida's Division of Emergency Management in a statement.

Earlier, hurricane Ida left at least 124 people dead and another 60 missing across El Salvador. Ida is the Atlantic region's ninth named storm. The Atlantic hurricane season ends on November 30.