Tragic Hurricane Milton deaths reported as tornadoes tear through Florida

St. Lucie County sheriff confirmed "multiple fatalities" reported after a tornado tore through the area earlier today. The fatality number remains uncertain at this stage

Authorities in America have confirmed "multiple fatalities" following a tornado that struck the area earlier today.

St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson revealed that a number of individuals had tragically died at the Spanish Lakes Country Club, a community largely populated by older residents. The precise number of casualties is currently unclear as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida's coastline.

Pearson stressed that thorough checks of each property are being carried out to aid those affected, with search and rescue operations underway. A host of agencies, including officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, have descended on the scene to provide assistance.

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Distressing footage shared on social media illustrates thousands evacuating in the face of Hurricane Milton, which has been described as the 'worst storm in years'. With Hurricane Milton set to hit Florida imminently, time is running out for locals to escape the impending 'catastrophic' storm, reports the Mirror US.

"We have dozens of homes in St. Lucie County that have been damaged, some catastrophic damage," said St. Lucie County spokesperson Erick Gill. He added: "We are working with the St. Lucie County Fire District ... National Guard, as well as units from the sheriff's office and even first responders from surrounding counties to help with search and rescue."

Officials report that around 125 homes have been destroyed across the state.

Southern Florida was hit by severe weather conditions on Wednesday, with heavy rain and tornadoes causing havoc. The region is bracing for further rainfall of between six and 12 inches (15 to 31 centimeters), and up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) in some areas inland, raising fears of catastrophic flooding.

A tornado touched down on Wednesday morning in the sparsely populated Everglades, crossing Interstate 75. Another suspected tornado made landfall in Fort Myers, causing significant damage including snapping tree limbs and tearing apart a gas station's canopy.

The tornado watch will continue until 9pm ET on Wednesday, covering parts of south Florida, including Miami, Key Largo, Tampa, Port St. Lucie, Jupiter Farms, Sebring, Sebastian, Sarasota, North Port, Cape Coral, and Bonita Springs, according to the agency.

Kevin Guthrie, the director of Florida's Division of Emergency Management, confirmed that multiple task forces are en route to the affected areas.

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