President Joe Biden fears Hurricane Ian will be the deadliest in Florida history. “The numbers are not clear, but we are hearing the first reports of significant loss of life,” he said. Officially, eight deaths have been reported so far as a result of the storm.
Local media reported that a 72-year-old man was killed near his home north of Orlando as a result of the storm. It is feared that more people will die. The Coast Guard is searching for a boat with about 20 Cuban immigrants who disappeared during the hurricane.
Biden declared that the situation in Florida after Hurricane Ian is a major disaster. As a result, residents of affected areas can claim financial and other assistance, such as temporary shelter and repair of their homes.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said 250 planes and helicopters, 1,600 vehicles and 300 boats were equipped to help civilians as quickly as possible.
In some places, the water reaches a height of 3 metres
Hurricane Ian made landfall on the west coast of Florida Wednesday evening with winds of up to 150 miles per hour. The storm also caused extensive damage.
The coastal cities of Sarasota, Venice and Fort Myers were the hardest hit. Waves several meters high hit the coast and torrential rains caused flooding. The cyclone also hit boats on the coast and destroyed buildings and bridges.
According to local reports, the water height in some places in Florida ranges between two and three meters. In the affected neighborhoods, people do not know how to get out of their flooded homes without a boat. Many are looking for potential victims in flooded areas.
It is unclear when the water will recede. More than two million people have lost power and it will take days and sometimes weeks to repair the damage, according to the electricity companies.
Meanwhile, Ian has weakened into a tropical storm. Ian is expected to regain his strength once he crosses the Atlantic.
