At least 19 people died as a result of Hurricane Ian passing through the state of Florida, according to the US press, based on information from local authorities, who admit, however, hundreds of victims.
In Charlotte County, located on the west coast of Florida and very close to the area where Ian made landfall, there were “at least eight or nine deaths,” said Councilman Joseph Tiseo, quoted by CNN.
The television channel also mentioned the death of five people in neighboring Lee County, where, according to images published on social networks, there was massive flooding and the destruction of homes.
Sanibel Mayor Dana Souza said four people have died on the island. Part of the only bridge connecting the mainland has collapsed, cutting off Sanibel, home to 6,300 people.
Sarasota County has recorded two hurricane-related deaths, Sheriff Kaitlyn Perez told CNN.
On the other hand, a person who was in palliative care in a nursing home died in Osceola County, the director of Emergency Management, Bill Litton, confirmed to the same television channel.
A 72-year-old man died in Deltona after falling into a canal while using a hose to drain the pool in heavy rain, according to police in central Florida’s Volusia County.
In Lake County, a 38-year-old man was killed in an accident after his car skidded on a wet road, authorities said.
“This could be the deadliest hurricane in the history of Florida,” US President Joe Biden said Thursday during a tour of the facilities of the federal agency that combats natural disasters.
The Florida Coast Guard continues to try to find 18 Cuban migrants who were on a boat that sank east of Key West, South Florida, as a result of Hurricane Ian on Wednesday.
So far, nine survivors have been found, the US border patrol force said.
“There have been more than 700 confirmed rescues and there are sure to be many more as more data comes in,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said.
According to the rating agency Fitch Ratings, Hurricane Ian will have caused material damage of between 30,000 and 50,000 million dollars (30,600 and 51,000 million euros).
As of Thursday night, more than 2.3 million homes or businesses were without power, according to the specialized website PowerOutage.
After losing strength as it passed through Florida, becoming a tropical storm, Ian became a hurricane again in Atlantic waters and is currently heading for the states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, where flooding, storms and strong storms are expected. winds.
The hurricane had already caused three deaths as it passed through Cuba, where it caused the total failure of the electrical network.
* News updated at 07:05
Source: TSF
