- Preliminary figures of deaths from the destruction caused by the passage of Hurricane Ian in Florida rise to at least 15
The preliminary figures of deaths after the passage of Hurricane Ian in Florida rise to at least 15, according to several United States media such as CNN, which has made a balance this Thursday based on information from local authorities.
This balance coincides with what was said today by the state governor, Ron DeSantis, who assured that “mortality” is expected after the passage of the phenomenon, although he did not give any figures.
According to the outlet, in southwestern and central Florida at least 15 people have been reported dead so far due to Hurricane Ian.
On the other hand, Charlotte County, where the town of Punta Gorda is located, there were “at least eight or nine deaths,” CNN said, citing a local official, Commissioner Joseph Tiseo, who deals with the fifth district of this county.Charlotte County is located on the west coast of Florida and very close to the area where Ian made landfall on Wednesday with a category 4.
It is also “believed” that about five people died in Lee County, adjoining Charlotte and where Fort Myers is located, where it seems from the images that the greatest flooding and loss of homes occurred.
Lee’s sheriff, Carmine Marceno, said on social media that they are “devastated” by Ian’s fallout.
Marceno conducted an aerial tour of Lee County Thursday morning to begin assessing the damage caused by Ian and showed images of extensive structural damage and flooding throughout the area.
One of the possible victims is a 72-year-old man from the town of Deltona, northeast of Orlando, who died early Thursday morning after falling into a canal while emptying his pool amid heavy rain, according to Orlando Police. Volusia County, in central Florida.
Sarasota County (west) reported two hurricane-related deaths for its part, Sheriff Kaitlyn Perez told CNN, adding that her office had no additional details on where the deaths occurred or information on the people who lost their lives.
On the other hand, a person who was in palliative care died in Osceola County (central Florida), according to CNN, citing the director of Emergency Management, Bill Litton.
Apart from these deaths, it should be remembered that yesterday the disappearance of at least 20 Cuban migrants was reported, whose boat capsized while trying to make landfall in Florida, due to the force of the hurricane; the coast guard was only able to rescue three people.
After being downgraded to a tropical storm, Ian became a hurricane again this Thursday in the waters of the US Atlantic on its way to Georgia and the Carolinas, states that it now threatens with floods, storm surges and strong winds, after leaving much of the country devastated. Florida.