At Least 4 Dead in Florida After Hurricane Milton Spawns Nearly 20 Tornadoes: ‘It’s Devastating,' Sheriff Says

Mar. 15, 2025

At least four people have died from Hurricane Milton after the storm dropped multiple tornadoes in southern Florida on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

St. Lucie County sheriff Keith Pearson confirmed the four deaths occurred in the Lakewood Park community in a video message to locals on Thursday, Oct. 10, just a few hours after Miltonmade landfallas a Category 3 storm.

The fatalities were reported in the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village, a 55+ community in Port St. Lucie, according toABC affiliate WPBF.

“We are going through the rubble,” Pearson said, perTreasure Coast Newspapers, adding, “It’s devastating. There are no words to describe it.”

Spanish Lakes Country Club Village did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty

Tornadoes were also reported in Fort Myers, Port Mayaca, Stuart, Port Salerno, Wellington and more.

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A crane collapsed into a building in downtown St. Petersburg due to Hurricane Milton on October 10, 2024 in Florida.BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty

BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty

Florida Gov.Ron DeSantissaid 19 tornadoes touched down in Florida as a result of Milton, according toNBC affiliate WFLA. He declared a state of emergency in dozens of counties before the storm hit.

Milton came ashore near Siesta Key — about five miles west of Sarasota and 115 miles southwest of Orlando — at around 8:30 p.m. local time, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The hurricane brought maximum sustained wind speeds of 120 mph and is the fifth hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. this year.

More than 3.3 million people are currently without power in Florida, according toPowerOutage.us, as Milton moves offshore as aCategory 1 hurricane.

source: people.com