Hurricane Ian: Revived storm pounds South Carolina as death toll rises to 27

Flooding continued in central Florida as storm barrelled through state before gathering strength

Hurricane Ian moving up East Coast

A revived Hurricane Ian battered South Carolina, bringing heavy rains and flooded streets as the death toll in the US from one of its costliest storms climbed to 27.

The storm barrelled through western Cuba and raked across Florida before gathering strength in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean to curve back and strike South Carolina.

While the storm was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone earlier on Friday, the agency warned river flooding will continue through next week across central Florida. Meanwhile, president Joe Biden has issued an emergency declaration for South Carolina.

The storm hit Florida as one of the most powerful hurricanes in the state’s history, with wind speeds nearly reaching Category 5.

Nearly 2 million people in Florida were left without power – and economic losses could amount to $120bn, according to an estimate.

Key Points

• Revived storm batters South Carolina
• Ian downgraded to post tropical storm
• Hurrican Ian aftermath: Death toll rises to 27
• Nearly 2 million people without power in Florida and Carolinas
• President Biden issues emergency declaration in South Carolina

[1 October 2022 11:05 · Graeme Massie]

What path is Hurricane Ian taking?

ICYMI: Ian roared ashore as a Category 1 storm near Georgetown, South Carolina with sustained winds of 85 miles per hour.

[1 October 2022 12:04 · Graeme Massie]

Hurricane Ian makes landfall in South Carolina

ICYMI: Ian made landfall again as a Category 1 storm near Georgetown, 60 miles north of Charleston.

[1 October 2022 12:15 · Sravasti Dasgupta]

Death toll rises to 27

The death toll from Hurricane Ian has risen to 27 as of Friday night.

In Florida, many of the deaths were drownings, including that of a 68-year-old woman swept away into the ocean by a wave.

A 67-year-old man who was waiting to be rescued died after falling into rising water inside his home, authorities said.

Other storm-related deaths include a 22-year-old woman who died after an ATV rollover from a road washout and a 71-year-old man who fell off a roof while putting up rain shutters.

An 80-year-old woman and a 94-year-old man who relied on oxygen machines also died after the equipment stopped working during power outages.

Earlier this week another three people died in Cuba.

The death toll is expected to increase as rescue officials intensify operations in the areas that have been the hardest hit.

The Times Square area near the Lynn Hall Pier has been reduced to rubble on the island of Fort Myers Beach, Florida (© South Florida Sun Sentinel 2022)

[1 October 2022 13:00 · Graeme Massie]

Climate crisis is creating stronger hurricanes than ever before. Here’s why

ICYMI: Hurricane Ian quickly strengthened into a near-Category 5 storm by the time it smacked into southwestern Florida, leaving huge areas flattened, bridges destroyed and many communities underwater.

Scientists say this kind of “rapid intensification” is related to the climate crisis, as hotter oceans can supercharge a storm – providing it with a lot of power very quickly.

As the planet heats up, hurricanes are expected to become stronger and more destructive on average.

[1 October 2022 14:36 · Graig Graziosi]

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