Hurricane Milton Pummels Florida: Devastation Unfolds

Hurricane Milton struck Florida's coastline, bringing powerful winds and destructive tornadoes, with over 3 million homes losing power. The storm resulted in severe flooding, property devastation, and forced evacuations. Emergency services warned against staying, highlighting safety concerns. The event followed Hurricane Helene's similar impact two weeks prior.

Hurricane Milton made a fierce entry into Florida on Wednesday night as a Category 3 storm, hitting regions still recovering from previous storms. With wind speeds surpassing 100 mph, the hurricane initially skirted Tampa, making landfall near Sarasota.

St. Petersburg was severely impacted, witnessing over 16 inches of rain and widespread power outages affecting over 3 million homes. The storm triggered multiple tornadoes, devastating communities such as the Spanish Lakes Country Club, with accounts of fatalities and destroyed homes.

Florida officials had issued mandatory evacuation orders for vulnerable areas, emphasizing the storm's severe risk. Despite preparations involving a massive mobilization of resources, the storm's harsh conditions led to significant disruptions and damage across the peninsula.

(With inputs from agencies.)