One of the most powerful storms in US history has barrelled into Florida’s southwest coast with sustained winds of up to 150mph (241kph) and torrential rain.
Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa as an “extremely dangerous” category four storm but was close to being the maximum level of five (when there are winds of at least 157mph/252kph).
‘This storm is bigger than Florida’ – Hurricane Ian latest
The “catastrophic” storm surge could be as high as 12-18ft (3-5 metres) above ground level in some areas, with “destructive waves” and “life-threatening” flooding.
Cayo Costa is about 90 miles (145 km) south of Tampa and just west of Fort Myers.
The landfall zone has miles of sandy beaches, scores of resort hotels and numerous mobile home parks.
Ian was expected to dump 12-18in (30-45cm) of rain across a broad area including Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville in the state’s northeast corner.
People were told to treat the winds as if a tornado was approaching by moving to an “interior room now”.
US President Joe Biden said Ian is incredibly dangerous, and he urged residents to obey all warnings related to the storm.
More than two million people were under evacuation orders.
Even as Ian lashed the coast in the final hours before it swept ashore, authorities put residents on notice that it was too late for anyone who had yet to evacuate to safely do so.
As the storm heads inland, it is expected to weaken, but residents in central Florida could still experience hurricane-force winds.
Over a million impacted by power cuts
Among the places set to be worst affected in the southwest are from Englewood to Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbour.
Residents “should urgently follow any evacuation orders in effect”, said the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
More than one million homes and businesses were without electricity.
Meanwhile, 23 people went missing off the Florida coast after a Cuban migrant boat sank due to the hurricane. Three were later rescued as they tried to swim to shore.
‘Life-threatening, catastrophic flooding’
The tropical storm conditions began in the southern state on Wednesday morning local time and the severe conditions are expected to continue overnight.
Heavy rainfall will spread across the peninsula throughout Thursday and reach parts of the southeastern US later this week and over the weekend.
About two-thirds of Florida is in the peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.
The NHC added: “Widespread, life-threatening catastrophic flooding is expected across portions of central Florida with considerable flooding in southern Florida, northern Florida, southeastern Georgia and coastal South Carolina.
“Widespread, prolonged moderate to major river flooding expected across central Florida.”
‘A nasty, nasty two days’
Mr Biden said he had spoken to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday about Ian, adding that the federal government had met every request for help from the coastal state.
“This is going to be a nasty day, two days,” Mr DeSantis said. “Probably, we think now, it will be exiting the peninsula sometime on Thursday.”
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Hurricane Ian tears across Cuba
Hurricane Ian leaves millions in Cuba without electricity
Cuba working to restore power
Meanwhile, Cuban officials said they have begun to restore some power after Ian knocked out electricity to the entire island while devastating some of the country’s most important tobacco farms.
Ian hit the island’s western tip as a major storm.
It made landfall there on Tuesday as a category three storm, causing flooding, as houses were damaged and trees toppled in the strong winds.
Tens of thousands of people were evacuated and others fled the area ahead of its arrival.