The confirmed death toll of Hurricane Ian has risen to 77, with the majority concentrated in a Florida county that is facing criticism for delaying its evacuation warning, APA reports citing NBC News.
In Lee County, home to Fort Myers and epicenter of the hurricane's devastation on Florida's Gulf Coast, there were 35 deaths after county officials waited a day longer than other nearby areas to issue evacuation orders.
All 77 deaths so-far recorded have been in Florida.
***00.20
The number of fatalities from Hurricane Ian rose to 30 in the United States after the powerful storm pummeled Florida and South Carolina, said the officials, APA reports citing Associated Press.
The officials said that 27 people who lost their lives were Floridians, noting that the number is expected to get higher. While many of the deaths attributed to drowning, two people died in a car crash, one from head injuries and two were found dead after experiencing a blackout that lead to their oxygen machines turning off.
On Friday, Ida made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 4 hurricane.
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
