Biden believes Hurricane Ian could be one of the deadliest in the US
US President Joe Biden believes Hurricane Ian, which hit the state of Florida, could become one of the most devastating in the country’s history.
“We are beginning to assess the scale of the devastation in Florida, which could likely be one of the worst in the country’s history. Our hearts ache for the people whose lives have been destroyed by this storm. We are with you. And we will remain with you for as long as it takes,” the American leader said in a statement posted on Twitter on October 1.
Earlier in the day it became known that the death toll from the natural disaster in Florida had reached 77. The search and rescue operation is ongoing, the number of victims may increase.
Houses on the coast have been washed away by the sea, buildings across the state have been destroyed, floodwaters have destroyed homes and businesses. Some residents have been trapped. According to the National Hurricane Center, wind speeds in the state are still at 35 miles per hour.
On 29 September, it was reported that the hurricane left more than 2 million Florida residents without electricity. That’s more than 20% of consumers. In addition, a shark swam into a city street as a result of the storm. State authorities have warned residents that other wild animals may be encountered on the streets due to the hurricane.
Tropical Storm Ian formed in the Atlantic Ocean on 23 September about 625km south-east of Jamaica and began moving north-west. The National Hurricane Watch noted that Hurricane Ian was strengthening to its most dangerous category five, with wind speeds of up to 250 km/h.