Hurricane "Milton" entered today over the Atlantic Ocean after passing devastatingly over the American state of Florida, cutting off power to more than 3.4 million consumers and causing one hundred and fifty tornadoes there, the Associated Press reported, quoted by NTA.
The Category 3 storm on the five-point Saffir-Simpson scale killed at least five people, but still did not hit Tampa head-on.
The perimeter of the damage was extensive, but Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, indicated that it was not the "worst case scenario". He pointed to the fact that the deadly storm generally passed Tampa, although some areas received 18 inches of rain.
The situation appeared to be the worst in Sarasota County, where the water level was between 2.5 and 3 meters. Still, this is below the peak level of Hurricane Helene, the AP points out.
"We will get a better estimate of the extent of the damage as the day progresses," Desantis said. "We still have work to do, but we will definitely do it," he added. Tampa's airport, which sustained minimal damage, is expected to reopen by tomorrow, the governor predicted.
At dawn today, storm warnings remained in effect along Florida's east-central coast and to the north in the neighboring state of Georgia. An alarm signal was also issued along the coast of the state of South Carolina.
Authorities in the hard-hit Florida counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota and Lee urged people to stay indoors, warning of downed power lines, downed trees on roads, blocked bridges and flooding.
Flooding in Plant City was "totally sweeping" according to City Manager Bill McDaniel. Local emergency crews rescued 35 people overnight, said McDaniel, who reported 11 inches of rain fell on the city.
"Flooding in places has reached levels I have never seen, and I have lived here all my life," he said in a video released early this morning.
The canvas that is stretched for the roof of the stadium "Tropicana Field" of the St. Petersburg-Tampa Bay Rays baseball team, was torn to pieces by the fierce winds, the AP reported. Debris littered the stadium field, but there were no reports of injuries.
Due to damage to the water main, the administration of St. Petersburg stopped the water supply. Mayor Ken Welch warned local residents to expect long power outages and possible sewer faucet shutoffs.
Government officials said they carried out more than 40 rescue operations that night and were going door-to-door today to assess the damage in St. Petersburg.
Tampa police say they have rescued 15 people from a house damaged by a tree downed by the storm. The entertainment complexes in the city of Orlando "Walt Disney World", "Universal World" and "Sea World" remained closed today.
There were no deaths on Anna Maria Island, in Manautti County, where nearly the entire population was evacuated, local police Chief John Cosby said.
Former US President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the November 5 election, said in a video released today that he was "saddened by the devastation" caused by "Milton" in the state of Florida, where he lives year-round. He and his wife, Melania, are praying for the people affected by the disaster, he added, quoted by France Presse.