Hurricane Milton threatens more devastation in Florida after Helene

A authorities of exigency has been declared successful parts of Florida arsenic a hurricane barrels towards the already-ravaged Gulf Coast.

The National Hurricane Centre confirmed that Milton - presently disconnected the seashore of Mexico - had intensified into a Category 1 hurricane connected Sunday and could airs "life-threatening hazards" for parts of Florida's westbound coast.

It comes conscionable 10 days aft Storm Helene - the deadliest mainland tempest since Katrina successful 2005 - tore done the south-east, sidesplitting astatine slightest 225 people, with hundreds inactive missing.

In Florida, wherever Helene near astatine slightest 14 dead, Governor Ron DeSantis issued the exigency informing for 35 counties and said preparations were nether mode to reconstruct powerfulness and wide roads up of Milton's arrival.

On Sunday, Milton had maximum sustained winds of 80mph (130km/h).

“There is expanding assurance that a almighty hurricane with life-threatening hazards volition beryllium affecting portions of the Florida westbound seashore astir the mediate of this week," the Hurricane Centre said.

Heavy rainfall was expected successful the portion from Sunday into Monday, with much rainfall and beardown winds connected Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Rainfall could beryllium betwixt 5-8in (127-203mm) crossed the Florida Peninsula and the Keys, with immoderate areas receiving up to 12in (304mm), which could bring a hazard of flash flooding and minor-to-moderate stream flooding for parts of the westbound coast, the centre said.

The caller hurricane comes arsenic the clean-up efforts from Helene could instrumentality years, according to the US government.

While a ample proportionality of the deaths occurred successful North Carolina, others person been recorded successful Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Hundreds of roads stay closed, hampering efforts to nonstop assistance to hard-hit communities.

Helene, which made landfall arsenic a category-four hurricane, damaged structures, caused flash flooding and knocked retired powerfulness to millions of homes.