Hurricane Milton, now downgraded to a Category 1 storm, has left a trail of devastation in Florida after making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday. The storm initially weakened from a powerful Category 5 hurricane but still caused significant damage, knocking out power to over three million homes and businesses. The extent of casualties remains unclear.
Milton has unleashed intense winds, heavy rainfall, and triggered multiple tornadoes, forcing widespread evacuations as coastal cities endure storm surges and flooding. US President Joe Biden has warned that Milton could be one of the most destructive hurricanes to hit Florida in over a century.
This comes on the heels of Hurricane Helene, which struck the region less than two weeks prior, marking an unprecedented period of back-to-back major storms for a region that has historically avoided direct hurricane strikes for over 100 years. Authorities are now focused on rescue and recovery efforts while millions await power restoration and the storm continues to move inland.
