Danger from hurricane

Eye of megahurricane “Milton” hits Florida

(Bild: APA/AP)

Hurricane "Milton" has made landfall in the US state of Florida. Meteorologists fear that it could become one of the most dangerous storms in the state's history. Several people have already lost their lives in tornadoes. More than 2.8 million households in Florida were without power on Thursday.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the hurricane made landfall at 8.30 p.m. local time (2.30 a.m. CET) with winds of up to 193 kilometers per hour and is moving further east. Hurricane-force gusts of wind have now reached the east coast of the state.

Shortly before "Milton" hit the coast, it had been downgraded from the highest category 5 to initially 4 and later 3. It later weakened to category 2. The US hurricane center continued to speak of "dangerous" winds with sustained speeds of 165 kilometers per hour.

Milton now has category 1 strength and will pass over Florida at a maximum speed of around 150 kilometers per hour in the coming hours. However, authorities still warned of dangerous storm surges and flash floods, and precipitation of up to 450 liters of rain per square meter is expected.

At least 27 tornadoes in Florida
According to the National Weather Service, the storm, including torrential rainfall, has already triggered at least 27 tornadoes in Florida. In total, more than 125 tornado warnings were issued on Wednesday. This is the most tornado warnings ever issued in a single day for the state of Florida.

Damage cannot be assessed until daybreak
Authorities in Florida were eagerly awaiting daybreak to assess the damage in the towns. "We don't know what we're going to see when there's daylight here," Tampa City Council President Guido Maniscalco told CNN early Thursday morning. Hundreds of homes are believed to have been completely destroyed, according to initial reports.

The power grid collapsed - according to the platform poweroutage.us, more than 2.8 million homes and businesses across Florida were without power early Thursday morning.

Several dead in residential complex for senior citizens
In Saint Lucie County, north of Fort Pierce, several suspected tornadoes have resulted in multiple fatalities, Sheriff Keith Pearson told WPTV. Those deaths occurred at a senior living facility. "We've lost some lives, search and rescue teams are out, our deputies are here, the fire department is here, we're searching through the debris and trying to recover as many as we can and provide whatever assistance we can," Pearson explained.

Images from the senior residence in Saint Lucie where several people died:

There had been a millennium flood in St. Petersburg, Florida's fifth-largest city, CNN reported. Drinking water was cut off after a water pipe burst. In addition, a construction crane fell from a building that was to become the tallest in the city. No one was injured in the dicey incident. According to witnesses, the accident sounded "like a mixture of booming thunder and the metallic screech of a train crash", a local resident was quoted as saying by CNN.

In St. Petersburg, a construction crane fell from a building in the city center.

(Bild: APA/Tampa Bay Times)

Sea level could rise by up to four meters
"Milton" is now threatening the greater Tampa Bay area, where more than three million people live. According to forecasts, the sea level could rise by up to four meters. At sea, the hurricane caused waves up to 8.5 meters high, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Rescue operations during the night
The authorities were preparing for extensive search and rescue operations that may last all night. "This means that almost all rescue work will have to be carried out in the dark in the middle of the night, but that's OK. They'll make it," said the governor of the state of Florida, Ron DeSantis.

"Milton" is now expected to move from the Gulf coast of Florida across the state towards the Atlantic. Severe destruction is also expected beyond the coasts. Tornadoes were already raging in parts of Florida before the hurricane's arrival. Water levels rose rapidly as the strong winds drove the seawater inland.

In this article, tornadoes are shown shortly before the arrival of "Milton":

Meteorologists predicted it could be one of the most dangerous storms in the state's history. In addition to extreme wind speeds, heavy rainfall and dangerous storm surges are expected, which could cause widespread flooding.

Millions of people ordered to evacuate
The authorities have ordered the evacuation of several coastal areas. Millions of people were asked to leave their homes and seek safety. Many heeded the call - there were reports of traffic jams and shortages of fuel and emergency accommodation. Finally, the authorities asked people to barricade themselves in place ("shelter in place"), as a safe evacuation was no longer possible.

Preparations were in full swing right up to the last minute. The US government initiated far-reaching relief measures to support the affected areas. The Pentagon mobilized thousands of National Guardsmen to help with rescue operations and the distribution of relief supplies. Emergency centers have also been set up to ensure rapid assistance during and after the storm.

A week and a half ago, storm "Helene" had already caused severe damage in Florida and several other states. Well over 200 people lost their lives. Many of those affected in Florida had no time to recover from the destruction in view of the arrival of "Milton".