Hurricane Sandy is closing in on highly populated areas of the US east coast threatening storm surges and devastating flooding. In New York City, thousands of people have been ordered to leave their homes and evacuation shelters have been set up in 76 schools. Public transport has been halted and the New York Stock Exchange closed. Forecasters fear Sandy will become a super-storm when it collides with cold weather fronts from the west and north. Sandy has already killed 60 people after sweeping through the Caribbean in the past week. Campaigning for the US presidential election has also been disrupted, eight days ahead of election day.