Hurricane Milton live updates: Florida surveys ‘tragic’ damage in wake of monster storm, dozens of tornadoes
Multiple fatalities have already been reported as Hurricane Milton continues to wreak havoc as it moves off Florida’s east coast
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
At least 14 people have died after Hurricane Milton devastated portions of Florida, leaving residents waking up to survey the damage.
Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday night near Sarasota County’s Siesta Key, bringing multiple tornadoes, 28ft waves, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and devastating storm surge.
Six people in St Lucie County retirement village have been killed by tornadoes brought on by the hurricane after a dozen twisters spawned in the region within 20 minutes.
Ferocious winds caused a crane to collapse into the The Tampa Bay Times in St Petersburg, while the roof of Tropicana Field baseball stadium has been left in disrepair.
More than 3.3m homes and businesses in Florida have been left powerless, with those in the west-central region the worst impacted.
Evacuation alerts were blasted out to millions, with Bradenton Police Chief Melanie issuing a bleak prognosis for those who neglected advice. “What we’ll probably be finding in the morning are bodies,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Thursday morning.
After landfall, Milton has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane and is moving off Florida’s east coast – with residents still battling against brutal winds and storm surge.
Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa sustain minor damage
ZooTampa and the Florida Aquarium sustained some damage from Hurricane Milton, but all their animals are safe.
Debris cleanup will take a few days, the zoo told The Associated Press.
The aquarium’s buildings in Tampa and Apollo Beach also “appear to have minor weather-related damage,” it said in a Thursday press release.
Both the zoo and the aquarium are planning to reopen on Saturday.
With reporting from The Associated Press
More than 500 rescued from Pinellas County apartments
More than 500 people were rescued in Pinellas County after a Clearwater apartment complex flooded, officials said Thursday.
While calls came in overnight, WFLA reported that high winds had initially stopped first responders. Those winds began to die down just before sunrise.
Anna Maria Mayor on Milton relief: ‘We’re trying to put the city back together'
“We’re trying to put the city back together, but it’s taking us quite a while,” Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy told FOX News on Thursday.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warns of bacterial infections from floodwaters
“Many of the deaths or injuries come afterwards as you have downed power lines, people going into water, that might have bacteria that can lead to fatal infections,” he said. “Things that you don’t necessarily think of [at] the moment of the impact of the storm, but are certainly part of the danger.”
Six deaths reported from St. Lucie County tornadoes
St. Lucie County officials told ABC News that six people are dead after tornadoes tore through the area.
The fatalities were reported in the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village in northern Fort Pierce.
Puppy rescued from rubble left behind by Hurricane Milton
A puppy named Benji was rescued Thursday from the rubble of mobile home retirement community in Fort Pierce, Florida.
His owners are among those unaccounted for, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
Florida emergency officials warn about ‘untold’ number of flooding dangers - including alligators
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments