One of the most powerful storms in US history hit the southwestern coast of Florida with sustained winds of up to 241 km / h and torrential rain.
Hurricane Ian landed near Cayo Costa as an “extremely dangerous” category four storm, but was close to the maximum level of five (when there are winds of at least 157 mph / 252 km / h).
“This storm is bigger than Florida” – The last hurricane Ian
Hurricane Ian landed near Cayo Costa in southwest Florida. Image: AP / NOAA
The storm surge, which likely peaked, was 3.6 meters above ground level in some areas and “life-threatening” floods were expected.
Ian was expected to dump 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) of rain over a large area including Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville in the northeastern corner of the state.
The city of Fort Myers Beach was nearly submerged by the floods and a few houseboats could be seen downstream, along with cars.
US President Joe Biden said Ian is incredibly dangerous and urged residents to obey all warnings related to the storm.
More than two million people were under evacuation orders.
Cayo Costa is located approximately 90 miles (145 km) south of Tampa and just west of Fort Myers.
The landing area has miles of sandy beaches, dozens of hotel resorts and numerous mobile home parks.
Although Ian lashed the coast in the last few hours before it was swept ashore, authorities warned residents that it was too late for anyone yet to evacuate to do so safely.
As the storm heads inland, it is expected to weaken, but residents in central Florida may still experience hurricane winds.
People were told to treat winds as if a tornado were approaching by moving into an “inner room now”.
Over a million affected by power outages
More than a million homes and businesses were without electricity.
Meanwhile, 20 people were feared missing off the coast of Florida after a Cuban migrant ship sank in the hurricane. Four migrants swam ashore in the Florida Keys and three others were rescued.
“Life-threatening catastrophic floods”
Tropical storm conditions began in the southern state on Wednesday morning, local time, and severe conditions were expected to continue overnight.
Heavy rains will spread across the peninsula throughout Thursday and reach parts of the southeastern United States later this week and over the weekend.
About two thirds of Florida is located on the peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said, “Widespread and life-threatening catastrophic flooding is expected in portions of central Florida with sizable flooding in South Florida, North Florida, Southeast Georgia and the Carolina coast. of the South.
“Widespread and prolonged moderate to severe river flooding is expected throughout Central Florida.”
The expected path of Hurricane Ian in the coming days
‘A bad, bad two days’
Mr. Biden said he spoke to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis about Ian on Tuesday, adding that the federal government has met every call for help from the coastal state.
“It’s going to be a bad day, two days,” DeSantis said. “Probably, we think now, he will leave the peninsula on Thursday.”
Read more:
Hurricane Ian strikes Cuba
Hurricane Ian leaves millions of people in Cuba without electricity
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The hurricane brings storms to Florida
Cuba working to restore power
Meanwhile, Cuban officials said they began restoring some power after Ian cut electricity to the entire island while devastating some of the country’s most important tobacco plantations.
Ian hit the western tip of the island like a big storm.
On Tuesday it landed there as a category three storm, causing flooding, as houses were damaged and trees collapsed due to the strong winds.
Tens of thousands of people were evacuated and others fled the area before his arrival.
