The death toll related to powerful Hurricane Ian in Florida exceeded 100 deaths in 17 counties, according to figures from the state Medical Examiners Commission (MEC, for its acronym in English).

The total number of confirmed deaths as of Monday rose to 102 and the highest number of deaths has been recorded in Lee County with 52 where the hurricane made landfall on September 28 as a category 4 with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km /h).

The counties with the highest death tolls after Lee are Monroe and Sarasota with seven each, followed by Charlotte, Collier and Volusia with five each, Hardee with four, Putnam and Manatee with three, Osceola, Polk and Hendry with two, and DeSoto, Hillsborough, Lake, Martin and Orange with one, the MEC detailed in a Monday statement.

Ian is one of the deadliest hurricanes in Florida history, with several people drowning. The cyclone caused severe flooding and catastrophic storm surge.

And it caused damage of at least between $25 billion and $40 billion, according to preliminary calculations by the rating agency Fitch Ratings of the insured properties.

Search and rescue efforts continue on the southwest coast of Florida. Authorities reported that they have carried out 2,500 rescues and have more than 1,000 rescuers in the area.

The Florida Joint Task Force has 4,351 activated personnel and is executing missions, while the National Guard has supported a total of 246 missions, according to figures from the state government.

The passage of the hurricane also left thousands without power and there are currently 29,664 reported power outages. They have already restored power to more than 2.6 million accounts statewide, representing more than 98% of customers.

Engineering resources have been deployed to assist with road cleanups in Pine Island and Charlotte County with 51.5 miles cleared to date in the affected area.

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