Hurricane Milton has unleashed catastrophic destruction across Florida, with 120mph winds and towering 12-foot storm surges flooding coastal cities. The storm, which made landfall in Siesta Key, has already claimed multiple lives and left nearly three million homes and businesses in darkness. Authorities had urged residents to evacuate, with warnings that anyone who stayed put “will die.” Dubbed the “storm of the century,” Hurricane Milton hit as a powerful Category 3 hurricane, tearing through Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, and beyond, with inches of rainfall hammering the coast every hour.
The devastation has been overwhelming. Tampa Bay saw immediate, severe flooding, and emergency crews have been stretched thin trying to respond to the widespread power outages and structural collapses. British travelers have been caught in the chaos, as Virgin Atlantic canceled 23 return flights between the UK and Florida, leaving tourists stranded. The airline’s statement read: “A state of emergency has been declared in Florida… services to and from Orlando and Tampa are subject to cancellations and delays.”
Florida has seen major hurricanes, but Milton’s wrath has left scars that will take months, if not years, to heal. The storm’s landfall is already being compared to some of the most destructive hurricanes in recent memory. As rescue teams continue their efforts, residents and tourists alike are left grappling with the terrifying force of nature that has forever changed Florida’s landscape.
