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Hurricane Milton batters Florida leaving multiple dead as police chief warns ‘we’ll be finding bodies’: Live

Multiple fatalities have already been reported as Hurricane Milton continues to wreak havoc as it moves off Florida’s east coast

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Hurricane Milton has devastated portions of Florida causing “multiple deaths” and officials predicting that more bodies will be found upon sunrise.

Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday night near Sarasota County’s Siesta Key, bringing multiple tornadoes, 28ft waves, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and devastating storm surge.

Evacuation alerts were blasted out to millions, with Bradenton Police Chief Melanie issuing a bleak prognosis for those who neglected advice.

“What we’ll probably be finding in the morning are bodies,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Thursday.

“Multiple deaths” have already been confirmed after dozens of tornadoes spawned in St Lucie County, seeing a tornado strike Spanish Lakes Country Club retirement village in Fort Pierce, county Sheriff Keith Pearson said.

More than 3.2m homes and businesses in Florida have been left powerless, with those in the west-central region the worst impacted. A large crane was downed in St Petersburg and the roof of Tropicana Field baseball stadium was ripped clean off during Milton’s ferocious winds.

After landfall, Milton has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane and is moving off Florida’s east coast – with residents still battling against brutal winds and storm surge.

1728562332

Hurricane Milton ‘pulling away’ from Florida’s east coast

James Liddell10 October 2024 13:12

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Breaking: Four killed by tornadoes in St Lucie County

Four people in St Lucie County have been killed by tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton ahead of landfall, officials said.

County Sheriff Keith Pearson previously confirmed that there had been “multiple deaths” after a dozen tornadoes spawned in St Lucie County within just 20 minutes.

One of which struck Spanish Lakes Country Club retirement village in Fort Pierce, causing several fatalities, Pearson said.

James Liddell10 October 2024 12:55

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Tampa mayor relieved storm surge less than predicted – but issues stark warning

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor expressed relief that less storm surge was recorded than anticipated, but issued an urgent warning to Hillsborough county residents.

The city situated on Florida’s west coast suffered extensive damage as Hurricane Milton passed through the state, Castor said early on Thursday in a news conference.

Much of the panic was lessened as storm surge levels being less than up to 15ft anticipated in the city, which “saved a lot, that’s what we were really worried about,” the mayor added.

Castor warned that battle against Milton isn’t quite over. Particularly for the wider county.

“At 7am (ET) when high tide comes in, rivers are going to flood all over Hillsborough County, not just in the city of Tampa,” she said.

James Liddell10 October 2024 12:41

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Fire crews rush to put out blaze from downed power lines

Fires have broken out due to downed power lines following Hurricane Milton’s hurricane-force winds battering the state.

The Matlacha and Pine Island Fire Control District responded to multiple calls about structure fires that had broken out on the Gulf Coast island located in Lee County.

Photos posted on its Facebook account show the building ablaze, and then the smoldering ruins after it was put out.

“Crews made access to the island a few hours ago and are responding to several calls including structure fires. Please stay off the road. We have multiple lines and poles down!,” the fire department wrote on Thursday morning.

James Liddell10 October 2024 12:26

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Floridians who refused to evacuate told to write their names on arms so they can be identified

Floridians who refused to follow evacuation orders despite living in the path of Hurricane Milton were told to write their names on their arms in permanent marker so that their bodies could be identified if they were killed.

Millions of residents were instructed to leave their homes ahead of Milton making landfall Wednesday night along Florida’s west-central coast as a devastating Category 3 hurricane.

But those who failed to heed advice were issued a harrowing warning and were told to mark their limbs with their personal details to help officials identify their remains.

James Liddell has the story.

Grim task Florida residents who refused to evacuate urged to do

‘What we’ll probably be finding in the morning are bodies... it’s bleak in some of these areas,’ Chief of the Bradenton Police Department Melanie Bevan said

James Liddell10 October 2024 12:11

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Storm surge too brutal for deployment of emergency workers in Sarasota

Storm surge is still too brutal for deployment of emergency workers across Sarasota County – after Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key less than 12 hours ago.

Jamie Carson, the county’s spokesperson, says that first responders could not intervene despite police receiving 1,400 calls since Milton slammed into the county.

When conditions become milder, emergency workers will be deployed to help those in need.

“So as soon as those winds die down, as soon as our tactical first in teams go out there and they clear those arteries, those major roadways, our first responders are going to go out there and start responding to those calls,” Carson told NPR.

James Liddell10 October 2024 11:56

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Photo shows extent of damage Milton inflicted on Tropicana Field’s roof

James Liddell10 October 2024 11:40

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Police chief shares ‘bleak’ prediction about those who didn’t evacuate

In the wake of Hurricane Milton making landfall on Wednesday night, a police chief has shared a harrowing prediction about those who neglected mandatory orders to evacuate: their bodies may be found upon sunrise.

“What we’ll probably be finding in the morning are bodies...it’s bleak in some of these areas,” Chief of the Bradenton Police Department Melanie Bevan told BBC Radio 4’s Today program early Thursday morning.

Bevan noted that other county police chiefs had urged those staying put to write their names in permanent marker on their limbs “so that we can get hold of somebody to come claim you”.

James Liddell10 October 2024 11:25

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Streets turned to rivers as storm surge and flash floods batter Florida

James Liddell10 October 2024 11:10

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Where is Hurricane Milton tracking?

James Liddell10 October 2024 10:55

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