10 October 2024 | 12:07

Milton hurricane claims lives as Florida declares emergency evacuation

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Tengrinews.kz - The catastrophic Hurricane Milton has slammed into Florida, claiming its first victims and leaving millions without power.

The state is grappling with extreme flooding, wind speeds of up to 120 miles per hour (around 193 kilometers per hour), and widespread destruction. The National Weather Service reported severe flooding in the Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg, where over 40 centimeters of rain have fallen. As of Wednesday, more than 1.5 million homes and businesses in Florida remain without power, and at least 125 homes have been completely destroyed, with the number of injured continuing to rise.

St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson confirmed multiple fatalities from a tornado that hit before Hurricane Milton made landfall. The worst damage occurred in a senior residential complex in Fort Pierce, where locals had sought shelter.

Officials have urged residents to evacuate immediately.

"Those impacted by Hurricane Helen could face an even more devastating blow. Leave now before it's too late," warned Pinellas County Emergency Director Cathy Perkins.

However, the window for safe evacuation is quickly closing, and some local authorities are advising residents to take refuge in shelters.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed that casualties are unavoidable, stating that 19 tornadoes have already struck several counties. Emergency services have also temporarily halted operations due to wind speeds reaching up to 90 miles per hour (around 145 kilometers per hour) in the Sarasota area.

@disaster..3338 Hurricane Milton in Florida with wind Speed 185 mph as Hurricane 🌀 5 🙏🙏🙏 #hurricane #milton #hurricanemilton #strom #weather #florida #fl ♬ Thunderstorm (environmental sound)(53155) - Killy

The damage caused by Hurricane Milton is expected to range between $60 to $100 billion, making it one of the most costly natural disasters in U.S. history. The storm is being compared to the infamous Hurricane Katrina of 2005.

The hurricane triggered a record 90 tornado warnings across Florida in the past 24 hours, with 11 confirmed tornadoes already touching down.

U.S. President Joe Biden called Hurricane Milton "one of the most destructive hurricanes of the past century," urging all residents in the disaster zone to evacuate immediately.

"This is a matter of life and death," he said.

Pop star Taylor Swift has donated $5 million to aid recovery efforts in the affected regions. Meanwhile, animals at ZooTampa are weathering the storm under the care of dedicated staff. British passengers on a cruise ship were evacuated by helicopter as their vessel sought shelter off the northern coast of Cuba.

@first.world.news Hurricane Milton storm surge in Fort Myers beach, Florida 09.10.2024 #naturaldisaster #severeweather #hurricane #hurricanemilton #huracanmilton #florida #fl #flood #floods #flooding #stormsurge #poplave #inundacion #inundaciones #inondation #usa #fortmyersbeach ♬ original sound - World News

Experts are linking the hurricane’s destructive power to climate change, pointing to warmer waters in the Gulf of Mexico and increased humidity as factors driving stronger winds and heavier rainfall. Researchers have already noted that climate change intensified Hurricane Helen by 10%, and similar processes may have amplified Milton’s force.

Authorities continue to urge vigilance, warning that the most dangerous hours of the storm are still to come. Despite repeated evacuation orders, some residents are refusing to leave their homes. Officials have advised those staying behind to take extreme precautions, including writing their name, birthdate, and other key details on their arms or legs with permanent markers to help identify bodies in the event of fatalities caused by the storm.

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