6 Mln Evacuted in Florida Due to Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton, now classified as a Category 5 storm, is rapidly approaching Florida's Gulf Coast, with maximum sustained winds reaching 270 kilometers per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The powerful hurricane has triggered mass evacuations across 12 counties, affecting nearly 6 million residents.

The storm is expected to hit the Tampa Bay area, causing severe traffic congestion and fuel shortages as more than a million people have been ordered to evacuate.

Tampa Bay, a densely populated region with over 3 million residents, is bracing for the worst storm in a century, according to US President Joe Biden.

Evacuate now—this is a matter of life and death." Vice President Kamala Harris echoed the warning, urging locals to heed evacuation orders seriously.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has deployed 5,000 National Guard troops, with an additional 3,000 on standby, to assist with the storm's aftermath.

Meteorologist Michael Lowry has warned that storm surges in Tampa Bay could be double those experienced during Hurricane Helen just two weeks ago, adding that Milton has intensified at an unprecedented rate in the Atlantic basin.

In preparation, emergency supplies such as generators, food, and water are being distributed across Florida. 

Residents are either reinforcing their homes or preparing to leave, while long lines have formed in Tampa for sandbags to guard against anticipated flooding.