LIVE – Hurricane Ian in Florida: “catastrophic flooding”, one million homes without power

Photos

Some shots collected by CNN during or after the passage of Hurricane Ian. Two million homes in Florida are now without power.

Ian became a Category 3 hurricane

According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Ian was currently classified as a Category 4, out of 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, but Ian is now a Category 3.

Fort Myers at the heart of the hurricane

A reporter from The Weather Channel captured Hurricane Ian as it tore through the town of Fort Myers. More than 1.5 million households are without electricity.

3 meters of flooding in Fort Myers

According to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, floodwaters could sometimes exceed 3 meters. In downtown Fort Myers, flooding is so severe that some neighborhoods look like lakes.

High winds in Punta Gorda

In these pictures, taken by this amateur meteorologist, you can see the force of the winds whipping through the streets of this Florida city. Peaks of up to 241 km/h have been recorded.

INONDATIONS A FORT MYERS

According to this specialized journalist from the Weather Channel, in the video we see images of a camera placed 1.80 meters above a street in Fort Myers and about to be submerged in water.

One million homes without electricity

More than a million homes are already without power in Florida, which was hit by Category 4 Hurricane Ian.

A very strong storm

With sustained winds of 150 miles per hour (241 km per hour), Hurricane Ian already ranks as the fifth most violent hurricane to hit the US coast.

flood

The MSNBC television channel is broadcasting these images of already flooded streets in the Naples (Florida) area, where cars appear to be completely submerged.

Report

TF1’s special correspondent was in Fort Myers a few hours before Hurricane Ian made landfall in this area of ​​southwest Florida.

Record the water level

Ian creates record water levels, surpassing Hurricane Irma, which caused more than $100 billion in damage in Florida in 2017.

On Charlie’s trail

Hurricane Ian appears to be taking the same path as its predecessor Charley in 2004, but looks stronger, Météo France forecaster Etienne Kapikian analyzes. Charley directly or indirectly caused 29 deaths in Florida.

In the eye of the hurricane

Seconds over the eye of Hurricane Ian as it makes landfall in Florida.

Ian arrives in Florida

The National Hurricane Center has announced that Ian will make landfall in Florida and is classified as a Category 4, which is considered extremely dangerous. With sustained winds of over 230 km/h, the hurricane made landfall on the US coast at the level of the Cayo Costa region.

Miami

The French Consulate in Florida, based in Miami, is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Ian.

In Cuba

Before reaching Florida, the hurricane passed over Cuba, causing significant damage in the west and causing power outages across the island.

“Catastrophic” floods

Hurricane Ian has caused “catastrophic” flooding as it nears Florida, where the Coast Guard has launched a search for 23 migrants missing at sea.

Carrying sustained winds of up to 250 km/h and stronger winds, the hurricane “will cause sea inundation, wind and catastrophic flooding on the Florida peninsula,” the National Hurricane Center (NHC) estimated in its latest news release.

Sarasota, first destruction

First AFP photographs from the coastal city of Sarasota as Category 4 Hurricane Ian makes landfall in Florida.

Evacuations

Hours before Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida, residents of the most threatened areas fled by the thousands.

Migrants disappeared at sea

The U.S. Coast Guard has launched a search for 23 migrants who went missing after their boat capsized off Florida, where Hurricane Ian was about to make landfall, the Border Patrol said.

Four Cuban migrants swam to shore after their boat capsized in bad weather. Miami Sector Border Patrol Chief Walter Schlosser tweeted that the Southeast Sector Coast Guard has launched a search and rescue operation for 23 people.

“Historic” storm

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest bulletin that Hurricane Ian is already causing “catastrophic sea inundation, wind and flooding” in Florida.

A Category 4 hurricane is looming on the west coast of the Florida peninsula, with the nation’s weather service warning that the storm could be “historic.”