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. At least two people lost their lives in a tornado. More than three 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 continued to move east. 

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" finally dropped to category 1 strength and passed over Florida at a maximum speed of around 150 kilometers per hour. However, authorities still warned of dangerous storm surges and flash floods, and precipitation of up to 450 liters of rain per square meter was expected. In the meantime, the eye of the hurricane has passed completely over the east coast.

Pictures from the retirement residence in Saint Lucie where several people died:

Several dead at senior living facility
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.

In the trailer park, about 200 emergency personnel are searching for people who are still trapped inside. The tornado had left a "trail of devastation" in its wake, they said.

Police chief: "No rescue, only recovery"
Police chief Melanie Bevan from Braderton told Radio 4 that she feared there would be many victims. "We saw roofs and trees flying around. It was pretty bad out there." Asked how they were planning to rescue those who had opted not to evacuate, she explained. "I don't think there will be a rescue once the storm subsides ... there will be a recovery." She added: "What we're likely to find in the morning are bodies ... it looks grim in some of these areas."

At least 27 tornadoes in Florida
The storm, including torrential rain, has already triggered at least 27 tornadoes in Florida, according to the National Weather Service. 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.

The Disney World theme park in Orlando was flooded:

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'll 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 three million homes and businesses across Florida were without power early Thursday morning.

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

(Bild: APA/Tampa Bay Times)

Crane fell from building onto street
In St. Petersburg, the fifth largest city in Florida, there was a millennium flood, as reported by CNN. 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.

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.

Evacuation caused traffic jams and fuel shortages
The evacuations caused many highways in the area to be congested and a quarter of Florida's gas stations to run out of fuel. The Civil Defense Agency had brought large quantities of drinking water, millions of meals and other relief supplies as well as personnel to the area. The aid would not interfere with the efforts to rebuild after the previous Hurricane Helene, emphasized the head of the authority, Deanne Criswell. At the Tampa Zoo, animals such as African elephants, Caribbean flamingos and pygmy hippos survived the severe hurricane.

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".