New Delhi, Aug. 19 -- People living on the Hatteras and Ocracoke islands of North Carolina have been asked to evacuate their homes by officials as Hurricane Erin has re-intensified into a Category 2 storm.

While Hurricane Erin is predicted to stay hundreds of kilometres offshore, the waves it is sending on the islands are at least 20 feet high that are crashing on the vulnerable sand dunes on the islands.

The winds of Hurricane Erin, the first hurricane of the six-month Atlantic season, have strengthened to 225 kilometres per hour, with forecast of more intense blows.

Officials have ordered evacuation of the Hatteras and Ocracoke islands even though there is no hurricane warning because of a thin strap of highway called NC12, connectin...