"Hurricane Ian" leaves a trail of devastation on the US coast

Three days after Hurricane “Ian” made landfall in the US state of Florida, the extent of the damage is becoming increasingly clear. The number of confirmed deaths has risen to at least 50. However, search teams have not yet managed to penetrate all of the affected areas, 10,000 people are still missing, said Kevin Guthrie, head of emergency management for the state of Florida.

About 1.2 million Florida homes were still without power on Saturday and another 300,000 in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

Hurricane “Ian” made landfall on the east coast of Florida on Wednesday with winds of up to 240 kilometers per hour and reached the port city of Georgetown, South Carolina, on Friday. According to analyst firm CoreLogic, insurers expect losses of between $28 billion and $47 billion.

“Ian” has since weakened to a post-tropical cyclone. According to the National Hurricane Center, the danger is not over yet. Storm surges and strong winds should continue to be expected in North and South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, he said.