Death toll rises in Hurricane Milton

The death toll has risen from Hurricane Milton, which reached land in the U.S. state of Florida as a Category 3 storm. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas reported at a press conference at the White House that at least 10 people had died due to Hurricane Milton, noting that these deaths were caused by tornadoes.

45 TORNADOES REPORTED

Tornadoes that struck the Spanish Lakes Communities, an area inhabited by seniors in St. Lucie County on Florida's east coast, resulted in the deaths of at least five people. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated that the state had avoided the "worst-case scenario" but emphasized that the damage remains significant. DeSantis noted that 19 tornadoes were confirmed across Florida on the day Milton made landfall. The National Weather Service announced that approximately 45 tornadoes were reported throughout the day in the central and eastern parts of the state. Americans who had been placed in shelters to protect themselves from the hurricane have begun returning to their homes by their own means.

EXTENT OF DAMAGE YET TO BE DETERMINED

According to PowerOutage.us, more than 3 million homes and businesses in Florida were without electricity as of the morning. In the Tampa area, the storm uprooted trees, blocked roads, and destroyed power lines. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said at a press conference held in the morning that some neighborhoods were flooded, but the full extent of the damage has not yet been determined.

15 PEOPLE RESCUED

Emergency teams are continuing rescue operations in the areas affected by the hurricane. At least 48 people have been rescued in 42 operations. Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw stated that emergency teams responded to many distress calls throughout the night and that 15 people were rescued after a tree fell onto a house.

COULD CAUSE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with local leaders in Florida regarding the disaster caused by Hurricane Milton and promised that the federal government would provide full support. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Tampa, Palm Beach, and St. Pete-Clearwater airports remained closed on Thursday, except for emergency aircraft. Air and land transportation in Florida came to a standstill due to the impact of the hurricane. The damage caused by Hurricane Milton is expected to result in billions of dollars in losses.

News Source: İHA