Status: 02.10.2022 04:29 am
Hurricane Ian caused severe damage. At least 50 deaths have now been confirmed. However, the search teams have not yet been able to reach all of the affected areas. 10,000 people are still missing.
Three days after Hurricane “Ian” hit the US coast in the US state of Florida, the extent of the damage is becoming increasingly clear. The number of confirmed deaths has risen to at least 50. However, the search teams have not yet been able to penetrate all of the affected areas.
About 10,000 people remain missing, said Kevin Guthrie, Florida’s chief of emergencies. US President Joe Biden had expressed dire fears, saying, “This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida history.”
Around 1.2 million households in Florida were still without power on Saturday, and another 300,000 in the states of South and North Carolina and Virginia.
“Ian” hit South Carolina at 140 kilometers per hour
“Ian” made landfall in Florida on Wednesday as a level four hurricane with wind speeds of up to 150 miles per hour. It left destruction and flooding in its wake across the southern state.
After that, “Ian” initially headed out to sea, where it regained some strength and hit the coast of South Carolina on Friday with wind speeds of around 140 kilometers per hour, as a level one out of five hurricane.
The TV pictures showed completely flooded streets and a partially destroyed pier. Falling trees cut power lines. According to the analysis company CoreLogic, insurers are expecting losses of between 28 and 47 billion dollars.
Hurricane Ian wreaks havoc in South Carolina and Florida
Tagesschau 09:48 a.m., 1.10.2022
Danger not yet averted
In the neighboring state of North Carolina alone, to which “Ian” moved, civil protection spoke of around 300,000 power outages. “Ian” has since weakened to a post-tropical cyclone. According to the National Hurricane Center, the danger is not over yet. Storm surges and strong winds should continue to be expected in North and South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, it said.
On Tuesday, “Ian” was a category three out of five hurricane that made landfall in Cuba and caused severe damage there. At least three people died, according to the government. Large parts of the Caribbean state were still without electricity on Friday.