Hurricane Milton wreaks havoc: Millions without power in Florida
Hurricane Milton is sweeping across Florida, leaving almost 2.8 million customers without power. Photos reveal the extent of the destruction as the hurricane has spawned several smaller tornadoes in the state.
Hurricane Milton, which reached Florida's western shores, has weakened, dropping from Category Three to Category One. On Thursday, the American National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that its maximum speed is currently 150 kilometres per hour.
"Milton officially made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida at 8:30 PM Eastern Time," informed the National Weather Service in Miami. The water level in the Gulf of Mexico rose by over 2.5 metres near Sarasota. Waves reaching nearly 10 metres high hit the coast.
A photo taken by the United States National Weather Service shows that the strongest part of the storm is now around the northeastern coast of the state, just north of Orlando.
More photos and videos are surfacing online. One video from Saint Petersburg shows the moment a transformer exploded. "Oh my God!" a voice can be heard exclaiming in the background, and a blue flash is visible.
Flood warning
Subsequent films and photos show the extent of the destruction. Authorities warn that "in some parts of west-central Florida, there is still a flash flood threat." The National Weather Service (NWC) has issued a flash flood warning in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Largo in Pinellas County.
The warning affects about two million residents.
"Move to higher ground now! This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation," the website's communication states.
Another recording shows a massive crane crashing into a building.
The Tropicana Field stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team, was severely damaged.
Hurricane Milton: Waves up to 3 metres
By early afternoon on Wednesday, airlines had cancelled about 1,900 flights in Florida. The SeaWorld theme park was closed all day, while Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando closed in the afternoon. Over 60% of Tampa and St. Petersburg gas stations were out of fuel.
Milton drew strength from the unusually warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, twice reaching Category Five status. Its maximum sustained wind speed was close to 330 kilometres per hour. In Tampa Bay, waves up to 3 metres are expected.
