At least 15 people were killed as Hurricane Ian swept through the state of Florida, according to the US press, based on information from local authorities.
In Charlotte County, located on Florida’s west coast and very close to the area where Ian made landfall, there were “at least eight or nine deaths,” Councilman Joseph Tiseo said, quoted by CNN.
The television station also reported the deaths of five people in neighboring Lee County, where massive flooding and destruction of homes occurred, according to social media images.
WATCH: Aerial View Shows Some Devastation From Hurricane Ian in Florida Lee County pic.twitter.com/pmIS40tpUh
– BNO News (@BNONews) September 29, 2022
dana Souza, the mayor of Sanibel, said four people had died on the island. Part of the only bridge connecting the mainland has collapsed, leaving Sanibel, home to 6,300 people, isolated.
Our field crews were able to reach Sanibel Island today and have captured aerial images of the damage. The only road to/from the island is badly damaged and rescues are carried out by a Coast Guard helicopter pic.twitter.com/rpSDUGjHy0
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) September 29, 2022
Sanibel Causeway & Island pic.twitter.com/zuhkfX85k9
— Julie Martin (@JulieMartinTV) September 29, 2022
Sarasota County has recorded two hurricane-related deaths, Sheriff Kaitlyn Perez told CNN.
On the other hand, a person who was in a hospice in a nursing home in Osceola County died, Emergency Management Director Bill Litton confirmed to the same television station.
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 the Volusia County Police Department in central Florida.
In Lake County, a 38-year-old man died in an accident after his car slid on a wet road, officials said.
“This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida history,” US President Joe Biden said on Thursday during a tour of the facilities of the federal agency that fights natural disasters.
The Florida Coast Guard continues to try to locate 18 Cuban migrants who were on a boat that sank east of Key West, south Florida, on Wednesday as a result of Hurricane Ian.
Nine survivors have been found so far, said police patrolling the US border.
“More than 700 confirmed rescues have taken place and many more are sure to follow as more data comes in,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said.
According to the rating agency Fitch Ratings, Hurricane Ian will have caused material damage between 30 billion and 50 billion dollars (30.6 billion and 51 billion euros).
More than 2.3 million homes or businesses were without power on Thursday evening, according to the specialized website PowerOutage.
After losing strength as it crossed Florida and became a tropical storm, Ian became a hurricane again in the Atlantic waters and is currently heading for the states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina where floods, storms and storms are expected. and strong winds.
The hurricane had already caused three deaths as it passed through Cuba, where it caused total power failure.
Source: DN
