Two people are believed to have been killed in a tornado that struck St. Lucie County, Florida, as Hurricane Milton approached the state, according to local officials. A spokesperson for the St. Lucie Fire District confirmed the deaths to NBC News and reported that multiple other individuals were transported to hospitals.
The tornado, one of several that swept across Florida yesterday morning, hit the southeastern region of Fort Pierce. Sheriff Keith Pearson told NBC that the twister struck the Spanish Lakes Country Club community around 4:30 PM local time.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated that there had been 19 confirmed tornadoes statewide, highlighting the widespread impact of the severe weather system associated with Hurricane Milton.
The storm’s effects have been far-reaching, with power outages affecting over 1.5 million homes and businesses across Florida, according to the tracking website Poweroutage.us. The highest number of outages were reported in Hardee County and the neighboring Sarasota and Manatee counties.
As of the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Milton is located approximately 100 miles (165 km) southwest of Cape Canaveral, Florida. The storm is currently generating maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, posing a significant threat to coastal areas and inland communities.
Emergency services and local authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as Hurricane Milton progresses. Residents in affected and potentially affected areas are urged to follow local guidelines and evacuation orders to ensure their safety.
