Several people died Wednesday in a retirement community in St. Lucie County, on the island’s east coast. Floridaafter tornadobefore the hurricane arrived Miltonwill destroy their homes, authorities confirmed to local media.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Department has assured the channel WPTV What ‘Multiple deaths’ occurred at Spanish Lakes Country Clubwhere older people live.

St. Lucie Chief Sheriff Keith Pierson said. It is unknown how many people died and that emergency teams launched a search and rescue operation at each of the affected homes before the rains hit Milton.

“We have dozens of homes in St. Lucie County that have been damaged. some of them have catastrophic consequences“St. Lucie County spokesman Eric Gill told WFLA.

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The main goal of the operation is to help survivors and assess the damage.

At least 19 tornadoes were recorded. in central and southern Florida this Wednesday, hours before Hurricane Milton made landfall in Siesta Key, on the west coast of Florida (USA).

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced this at a press conference this evening. At least 19 tornadoes confirmedespecially in the center and south of the state.

You might be interested > Hurricane Milton hits the west coast of Florida

The State Emergency Service reported that over the past few hours Up to 125 houses were destroyed.mostly mobile homes.

Milton, who reduced intensity to category 2 It is moving toward the Atlantic and could cause even more damage to communities already affected by the tornado. (EFE)