Hurricane Milton made landfall along Florida’s west coast as a Category 3 storm, after earlier weakening from a powerful Category 5.
The storm struck near Siesta Key, just south of the Tampa Bay area, unleashing torrential rain, high winds, and tornadoes across the state. Since landfall, Milton has been downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, but authorities warn that life-threatening weather hazards persist.
President Joe Biden described the hurricane as one of the "most destructive storms to hit Florida in over a century," prompting mass evacuations.
Approximately 2.2 million residents are currently without power, with widespread fuel shortages reported as nearly 25% of petrol stations across the state have run out of fuel.
Governor Ron DeSantis reported that at least 19 tornadoes had struck southern Florida, causing further devastation in areas hundreds of miles from the storm's center.
Evacuation efforts have ramped up, with thousands of residents moving to emergency shelters.
Florida's Division of Emergency Management urged continued caution, citing the potential for dangerous conditions despite the storm’s weakening.
Local authorities and emergency responders remain on high alert, focusing on rescue operations and restoring essential services.
