10/10/2024–|Last updated: 10/10/202405:52 AM (Mecca time)
The “extremely dangerous” Hurricane Milton began sweeping the coast of the state of Florida in the southern United States, accompanied by strong winds, heavy rains, and flash floods, thus beginning a long and extremely harsh night for the residents of an area struck just two weeks ago by another devastating hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center said, in a bulletin issued at dawn on Thursday, that Milton made landfall with the strength of an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 hurricane on a scale of 5 ascending categories.
The center added, “Data indicate that the eye of Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County,” which is densely populated and located on the west coast of Florida, accompanied by wind speeds of up to 205 kilometers per hour, warning of the possibility of sea waves rising to 4 meters. .
Hurricane Milton had reached Category 5 status as it was moving towards Florida from the Gulf of Mexico, but was downgraded to Category 4 before falling to Category 3 before making landfall.
Before the eye of the hurricane reached the coast of Florida, state Governor Ron DeSantis said during a press conference, “Well, the storm has arrived. It is time for everyone to take cover.”
De Santis said before the hurricane reached land that it was too late and it was too dangerous to evacuate anyone, thus calling on people to stay in place and withstand the storm wherever they are.
“Stay indoors and stay off the roads. Flood waters and high waves are very dangerous,” the governor said.
Life or death
US Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, described the situation as “a matter of life and death.”
According to the National Hurricane Center, the “extremely dangerous” hurricane caused life-threatening tornadoes, strong winds, and flash floods throughout the central Florida peninsula.
The center warned of tidal waves expected to submerge the densely populated Gulf Coast in western Florida, amid fears of massive destruction and possible deaths.
Hurricane Milton is expected to later hit the inland areas and reach the Atlantic Ocean. The hurricane’s path passes through the tourist city of Orlando.
In cities along Florida’s west coast, strong winds and heavy rain fell as frightened people took shelter in whatever shelter they had.
In the city of Sarasota, near Siesta Key, tornadoes caused glass panes to fly from buildings on the waterfront, while the streets were deserted.
The winds were so strong that the trees almost completely bent as they seemed barely able to withstand the severity of these gusts.
The stores closed their doors, which were reinforced with sandbags. Due to the hurricane, Tampa and Sarasota airports are closed until further notice.
Meteorologists expected this hurricane to become one of the most dangerous storms in the state’s history.
The hurricane caused President Joe Biden to postpone his trip to Germany and Angola, which was scheduled to begin Thursday.
Hurricane Milton arrived just two weeks after the devastating Hurricane Helen, which struck Florida and other states in the southeast of the country, causing massive destruction and huge human losses.
