Millions have been left without power as the Category 3 storm hit the US coast, leaving a trail of destruction
Florida residents have been instructed to hunker down as the Category 3 Hurricane Milton crashed into the US coast on Wednesday, leaving more than three million people without electricity.
The hurricane made landfall near Sarasota County’s Siesta Keys, forming destructive tornadoes, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges across multiple areas. According to the National Weather Service, the hurricane generated as many as 111 tornado warnings.
According to St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson, there have been “multiple” deaths confirmed on Florida’s Atlantic coast since the hurricane hit. County spokesperson Erick Gill said “dozens” of tornadoes had formed in the area. One of the tornadoes hit the Spanish Lakes Country Club, leading to “several fatalities,” Pearson said.
Meanwhile, several construction cranes were reported to have collapsed in the Florida city of St. Petersburg, while the roof of the Tropicana Field stadium was completely ripped off by Milton’s ferocious winds.
After slamming into the coast, officials said Milton weakened to a Category 1 hurricane but stressed that the threat to life remained throughout Thursday. The National Hurricane Center has also stated that a flash flood emergency continues over portions of west-central Florida as the hurricane continues to move across the peninsula.
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Throughout the day, users have been posting videos of the chaos brought about by Milton, while the National Hurricane Center has described it as “one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.”
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