Hurricane Milton: Death toll rises in Florida, 11 million remain at risk from flooding and alligator attacks

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Hurricane Milton: Death toll rises in Florida, 11 million remain at risk from flooding and alligator attacks

Hurricane Milton: Death toll rises in Florida, 11 million remain at risk from flooding and alligator attacks

The death toll from the “once in a century” storm, Hurricane Milton, has risen to 11, as millions still remain at high risk from flash flooding.

As day broke in Florida, the extreme destructive force of Hurricane Milton was on full display.

11 million people are currently under flash flooding emergency warnings and 3.4 million residents in Florida are without power.

Residents are being warned of the risk of alligators, as flood waters have displaced the dangerous animals, some even found lost inside residential homes.

Hurricane Milton whirled into the Atlantic Ocean after ploughing across Florida, where it had whipped up a barrage of tornadoes.

Originally expected to hit Tampa, the system tracked to the south in the final hours and made landfall late Wednesday as a category three storm in Siesta Key, about 112 kilometres south of Tampa.

Damage was widespread, and water levels may continue to rise for days, but Governor Ron DeSantis said it was not “the worst-case scenario”.

Camera IconPeople are rescued from an apartment complex in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. Credit: Mike Stewart/AP

The deadly storm surge feared for Tampa apparently did not materialise, though the storm dumped up to 45 centimetres of rain in some parts of the area, the governor said.

The worst storm surge appeared to be in Sarasota County, where it was 2.5 to 3 meters lower than in the worst place during Helene.

“We will better understand the extent of the damage as the day progresses,” Mr DeSantis said.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconDamage from Hurricane Helene in Sarasota Bay. Credit: ZACK WITTMAN/NYT

The tiny barrier island of Matlacha, just off Fort Myers, got hit by both a tornado and a surge, with many of the colourful buildings in the fishing and tourist village sustaining serious damage.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconThe storm surge as it moved into Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Credit: Collin Myers/facebook/supplied

Tom Reynolds, 90, spent the morning sweeping out four feet of mud and water and collecting chunks of aluminium siding torn off by a twister that also picked up a car and threw it across the road.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconTom Reynolds looks at damage to the first floor on his home following Hurricane Milton, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Matlacha, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) Credit: Marta Lavandier/AP

Mr Reynolds said he planned to repair the home he built three decades ago.

“What else am I going to do?” he said.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconHouses lie in ruins after sustaining tornado and flood damage from Hurricane Milton, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Matlacha, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) Credit: Marta Lavandier/AP

The fabric that serves as the roof of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team in St Petersburg was ripped to shreds by fierce winds.

It was not immediately clear if there was damage inside.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconThe roof of the Tropicana Field is damaged the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the region, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson) Credit: Mike Carlson/AP

Multiple cranes were also toppled in the storm.

St Petersburg residents could no longer get water from their household taps because a water main break led the city to shut down service.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconA crane has collapsed under the intense winds of Hurricane Milton in downtown St. Petersburg. Credit: Joey Krastel/X (Formerly Twitter)

Mayor Ken Welch had told residents to expect long power outages and the possible shutdown of the sewer system.

During a break in the storm, Tampa police rescued 15 people from a single-story home damaged by a fallen tree, authorities said.

Just inland from Tampa, the flooding in Plant City was “absolutely staggering,” according to City Manager Bill McDaniel.

Emergency crews rescued 35 people overnight, said McDaniel, who estimated the city received 34cm of rain.

“We have flooding in places and to levels that I’ve never seen, and I’ve lived in this community for my entire life,” he said in a video posted online Thursday morning.

The storm slammed into a region still reeling two weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded streets and homes in western Florida and left at least 230 people dead across the South.

In many places along the coast, municipalities raced to collect and dispose of debris before Milton’s winds and storm surge could toss it around and compound any damage.

Officials had issued dire warnings to flee or face grim odds of survival.

About 80,000 people spent the night in shelters and thousands of others fled after authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders across 15 Florida counties with a total population of about 7.2 million people.

In Orlando, flash flooding hit Disney World, with the usually picturesque streets in front of the iconic castle turning into a river.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconHurricane Milton has flooded Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Credit: X

Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and Sea World remained closed Thursday.

The Tampa airport, which took minimal damage, was expected to reopen no later than Friday, DeSantis said.

– With AP

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