New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Sunday ordered the evacuation of 375 000 people in low-lying areas threatened by Hurricane Sandy. “This is a serious and dangerous storm,” Bloomberg told a news conference as he ordered the mandatory evacuation ahead of the storm which is expected to start hitting on Monday. Airlines have cancelled hundreds of flights into airports along the US east coast ahead of the arrival of a major storm, authorities said Sunday. Air France cancelled all flights into New York and Washington on Monday while US airlines have called off hundreds of domestic flights. New York airports were to stay open on Sunday but the airport authority warned passengers to expect disruptions. New York authorities ordered the subway, commuter trains and buses to close on Sunday ahead of the arrival of a feared super-storm. The New York subway and regional buses will stop from 7pm state governor Mario Cuomo announced as he warned that the impending storm was “not something to be taken lightly.” Frankenstorm Hurricane Sandy shadowed the east coast of the United States on Sunday, raking the Carolinas with stinging rains and high waves as authorities braced for the potentially devastating “Frankenstorm” days before the US elections. The looming superstorm played havoc with the US presidential race, with Barack Obama and Mitt Romney both cancelling campaign events and scrambling to rearrange schedules with the November 6 polls just nine days away. President Barack Obama …