One of the strongest storms to hit the United States in recent memory, Hurricane Ian, has devastated Florida after slamming through the Caribbean.
Hurricane Ian – Maps and images showing destruction© Getty Images
Ian has now been downgraded to a tropical storm but people are being warned to continue to take shelter as strong winds and heavy rains move across the state towards Georgia.
Hurricane Ian – Maps and images showing destruction© BBC
As it entered the Gulf of Mexico, the storm intensified to a Category 4 hurricane with winds of up to 241 km/h (150 mph) and storm surges, or increasing sea levels, which inundated coastal cities and left thousands of people without electricity.
As the storm moves closer to the north-east coast, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued more life-threatening surge warnings.
Hurricane Ian – Maps and images showing destruction© BBC
Hurricane Ian – Maps and images showing destruction© BBC
Fort Myers Beach councilman Dan Allers estimated the ocean surge at 12 to 14 feet (3.7-4.3m).
It was an extremely difficult scene to behold, he told the BBC, to watch people’s possessions, homes, and other things drift by. “To say it’s disaster would be a tremendous understatement,” he said.
Firefighters in Naples had to wade into chest-high water to save individuals, including one woman who was stuck in her car.
Hurricane Ian – Maps and images showing destruction© BBC
Storm surges
Storm surges are caused when huge volumes of water are pushed by hurricane-force winds. When they meet land, the water surges inshore at levels far exceeding normal tides.
Hurricane Ian – Maps and images showing destruction© BBC
Cuban power outages
As it moved across the western part of the island on Tuesday, the hurricane in Cuba destroyed homes, took out electricity pylons, and caused other significant damage.
Hurricane Ian – Maps and images showing destruction© Reuters
At least three people died, according to state media. Millions were left without power for three days before power started to be restored in some areas.
Hurricane Ian – Maps and images showing destruction© Reuters
Hurricane season
Florida is no stranger to powerful hurricanes and some of the biggest the US has seen have passed across the state.
In 2004, Hurricane Charley became a Category 4 hurricane just before hitting Florida’s Gulf Coast. Nine died and the storm caused an estimated $6.8 billion in damage, according to the NHC.
Hurricane Ian – Maps and images showing destruction© BBC
Hurricane Irma, which made landfall in the Florida Keys in 2017, was a Category 4 hurricane that occasionally strengthened to a Category 5 storm with gusts of up to 295 km/h (185mph).
Before passing through the US states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, Irma wreaked havoc on Caribbean nations and territories; an estimated 1.2 million people were affected, and roughly 55 people perished.
When a hurricane reaches Category 4, it means that significant property destruction is likely.
Hurricane Ian – Maps and images showing destruction© BBC