Hurricane Ian has killed at least 23 people in Florida. Many of the victims have drowned, the southern state security service said Friday. According to CNN television, 45 people have died as a result of the devastating cyclone. The death toll is feared to rise in the coming days.
“Ian” hit Florida’s southwest coast as a second-highest Category 4 hurricane on Wednesday, wreaking havoc there (the video above shows the destruction in the city Fort Myers Beach, located on an island off the southwest coast of Florida lies). The storm had initially weakened over Florida, but then regained strength over the Atlantic.
On Friday afternoon (local time), the hurricane made landfall in the US state of South Carolina with wind speeds of 140 kilometers per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center NHC. The authority warned of “life-threatening storm surges” and “destructive winds”. “Ian” was later downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone. The NHC nevertheless warned of heavy rains, flash flooding and high winds.
State of emergency declared in South Carolina
South Carolina has declared a state of emergency because of the hurricane. US President Joe Biden called on the population to follow the instructions of the authorities. Speaking of the devastation in Florida, Biden said, “We’re just starting to see the magnitude of the devastation.” Hurricane “Ian” will “probably be one of the worst in the country’s history,” the president said.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
