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Hurricane Milton hits Florida as deaths are reported in Saint Lucie County

Hurricane Milton Hits Florida As Deaths Are Reported In Saint Lucie County
Hurricane Milton Hits Florida As Deaths Are Reported In Saint Lucie County

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Hurricane Milton has made landfall in Florida, bringing with it winds of up to 127 mph and the threat of catastrophic flooding.

The storm, described as “deadly and destructive” by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) chief Deanne Criswell, has hit the southeastern United States just two weeks after the devastating passage of Hurricane Helene.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Milton reached Siesta Key island shortly before 2 a.m. GMT. Though downgraded to a Category 3 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, the NHC still considers Milton a “powerful” hurricane.

U.S. President Joe Biden warned that Milton is expected to be “one of the most destructive hurricanes in Florida in a century”.

As the storm approached, 1.5 million homes and businesses in the area lost power. Over 125 houses were reported destroyed in Tampa before Milton made landfall.

Two people are believed to have been killed by a tornado that struck St. Lucie County as the hurricane approached, according to local officials.

A spokesperson for the St. Lucie Fire District confirmed the deaths to NBC and reported that many others were taken to hospitals.

Martin County, Florida, has reported numerous injuries and dozens of damaged homes. The county fire rescue service stated on social media that “dozens of homes are estimated to have been damaged, some severely. There have been minor/serious injuries, however, no fatalities have been reported at this time”.

Satellite video captured the moment the hurricane hit the Florida coast, with footage released by the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere showing the powerful storm moving across the state.

As of midnight (Cyprus time), Hurricane Milton was accompanied by winds reaching speeds of 124 mph and was about 62 miles southwest of Sarasota, according to the NHC.

It is forecast to sweep across Florida from west to east, passing very close to Orlando, where Disney World theme parks had closed by noon. Airports in Tampa and Sarasota are also closed.

Hurricane Milton is expected to cause waves up to 4.5 meters high in coastal areas and heavy rainfall resulting in “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding”, the NHC emphasises.

Authorities have also pointed out the additional danger from the numerous debris left behind by Hurricane Helene, which claimed the lives of at least 236 people in the southeastern United States, including 15 in Florida.

Tornadoes have been reported in central and southern Florida, according to the Weather Channel.

For several days, authorities have been urging residents in threatened areas to evacuate urgently, assuring that it is a “matter of life and death”.

The situation remains critical as Milton continues its path across Florida, with officials and residents bracing for potentially severe impacts in the coming hours.

(information from amna.gr, protothema.gr)

Read more:

Millions told to evacuate Florida as Hurricane Milton approaches
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