Authorities in the US state of Florida are assessing the damage from Hurricane Milton, which made landfall as a category 3 storm. Tampa is one of the areas most affected with large areas still underwater.

Tampa

Hurricane Milton has made landfall as a Category Three system, causing tornadoes and widespread damage across parts of Florida.

Hurricane Milton

Authorities in Florida are evaluating the extensive damage inflicted by Hurricane Milton, which recently made landfall as a category 3 storm. The city of Tampa is among the areas most severely impacted, with significant portions currently submerged under water. The storm's repercussions are evident as rivers and streams overflow, inundating inland communities to the east of Tampa. Rescue workers are actively conducting emergency evacuations in the affected regions.

Floodwaters reached critical levels overnight, with residents reporting significant increases from initial estimates. Florida's governor has stated that over 1,600 individuals have been rescued since the hurricane struck land on the West Coast. Milton's powerful winds, reaching speeds of 160 kilometers per hour, have caused widespread destruction, including the removal of roofs, fallen cranes, and flooding of numerous homes. State search and rescue teams are tirelessly working to ensure the safety of residents.

In St. Lucie County, emergency personnel are focused on locating victims in a retirement community that was hit by a tornado. Tragically, at least five fatalities have been reported at this location. Florida remains in a state of emergency, and President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit shortly to oversee recovery efforts. Current damage estimates from Hurricane Milton are projected to be approximately $50 billion. The hurricane marks the second such event in Florida within a fortnight, highlighting an alarming trend of increased storm activity, likely linked to warmer ocean temperatures. Efforts to restore power are underway as displaced individuals return home to assess the situation.



Tampa neighborhoods still underwater after Hurricane Milton

The storm has passed, but its devastation continues. Two days after Hurricane Milton churned across Florida, rivers and streams, swollen by record rainfall, now swell out of their banks. These inland communities east of Tampa now find themselves underwater, with rescue workers performing emergency evacuations. I was talking to one of the residents who went to bed last night, saw about a foot of water and said, hey, we're going to be okay, only to wake up today and saw they were in six feet of water. The governor of Florida says more than 1,600 people have been rescued since the hurricane made landfall on the West Coast late Wednesday. The storm's 160-kilometer-per-hour winds tore off roofs, toppled cranes, and inundated hundreds of homes. State search and rescue teams across the state have continued to work around the clock to successfully execute rescue missions. In St. Lucie County, emergency workers are searching for victims in the remnants of a retirement community struck by a tornado. At least five people are known to have perished at this site alone. The entire state of Florida remains under a state of emergency, and President Joe Biden says he will visit here in person on Sunday to oversee the recovery. Estimate that it's caused damages around $50 billion from Hurricane Milton alone. Just alone, $50 billion. I want everyone in the impacted areas to know we're going to do everything we can. Milton was the second hurricane to hit Florida in two weeks. The increased frequency and intensity of such storms, fueled by record-warm ocean waters, has made life in the Sunshine State more difficult. I think there's a lot of people that are just going to sell, probably, especially around here. The older people, like I said, on fixed incomes can't afford this. Crews have been working around the clock to restore power to millions as evacuees make their way home to see what's left. Heidi Jo Castro, Al Jazeera, Tampa, Florida.

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Hurricane Milton