Hurricane Milton leaves 14 dead, hundreds rescued in Florida

Hurricane Milton has left at least 14 people dead as it swept through Florida , causing major destruction across the state. Officials in hard-hit counties have urged residents to be cautious of downed power lines, blocked bridges, fallen trees, and ongoing flooding. Governor Ron DeSantis warned that more casualties could still be reported, as search-and-rescue efforts continue.

Milton, arriving just two weeks after Hurricane Helene, knocked out power to over 3 million homes and businesses across Florida. The storm also caused widespread flooding, damaged infrastructure, and led to multiple rescues. Before Milton made landfall, southern Florida had already been battered by heavy rain and tornadoes.

Rescue operations have saved over 340 people, along with 49 pets. Tampa police reported the death of a woman in her 70s, found under a fallen tree branch. Communities like Sarasota and Anna Maria Island are assessing the damage, with ongoing recovery efforts throughout the state.

One of the most dramatic rescues saw a 14-year-old boy saved by Hillsborough County officers after being found floating on a piece of fencing. A Coast Guard helicopter crew also rescued a man clinging to an ice chest after his fishing boat was caught in the storm’s fierce waves. The National Weather Service reported that almost 19 inches (48 cm) of rain fell in the St. Petersburg area, with the flooding in Plant City described as 'absolutely staggering' by local officials.

Despite the devastation, Tampa avoided a direct hit, and the feared catastrophic storm surge did not materialise. However, the storm made landfall in Siesta Key as a Category 3 hurricane, causing widespread damage. In St. Petersburg, a crane working on a 46-story building toppled, and a water main break forced the city to shut down service. The roof of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, was also destroyed.

Governor DeSantis praised the resilience of Floridians, saying, “You face two hurricanes in a couple of weeks — not easy to go through — but I’ve seen a lot of resilience throughout this state.” He expressed confidence that the state would recover quickly.