Hurricane Milton: 16 dead, Biden estimates $50 billion in damage

The death toll from Hurricane Milton rose to at least 16 in Florida on Friday as residents began returning to their homes, while millions remained without power.

US President Joe Biden estimated the hurricane's massive damage at $50 billion, while tornadoes, not floodwaters, were responsible for many of the storm's deaths.

As search and rescue operations and debris removal continue, Biden urged residents not to leave their homes until power lines and scattered debris are cleared.

About 2.5 million homes and business offices remained without power, while some areas along the path of the extremely violent storm from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean remained under water.

Milton hit the Florida coast late Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, devastating areas still reeling from Hurricane Helene two weeks earlier, which killed 237 people in the southeastern United States.

The National Weather Service issued 126 tornado warnings across the state on Wednesday, a record number, said hurricane expert Michael Lowry.

Cost of Hurricane Milton

Although Hurricane Milton did not cause catastrophic sea levels in Florida, the cleanup could take months.

Analysts said the hurricane, the fifth-strongest recorded in the Atlantic, could cost insurance companies between $30 billion and $60 billion.

The White House has pledged government support as the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

As the US presidential election approaches, back-to-back hurricanes Helen and Milton in Florida have become election material.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump accused President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris of "abandoning the victims," as he put it.

Biden responded Thursday by saying, "Go mind your own business," while Harris said it was unfortunate that the hurricanes were being used for what she called "political games."

Source: Agencies