By Luis De Jesus
08 Oct 2024, 16:46 PM EDT
Category 4 Hurricane Milton is approaching the west coast of Florida and could cause estimated damage of up to $175 billion, according to preliminary analyses.
With winds of 250 kilometers per hour, it is expected to make landfall Wednesday night in Tampa Bay, one of the most developed areas of the state.
Financial analysts, cited by the Efe news agency, warn that the losses could exceed those recorded in 2022 with Hurricane Ian, which left more than $50 billion in damages.
According to Jeffries Yaron Kinar, losses from Milton could be even greater if the hurricane continues its expected path through urban Tampa.
The National Hurricane Center indicated that this Tuesday is the last day for residents to take preparedness measures or evacuate designated areas.
Joe Biden warned that Milton could be the most devastating hurricane to hit Florida in the last 100 years, urging people in its path to evacuate immediately.
Florida is still dealing with the effects of Hurricane Helene, which hit the northwest region of the state 12 days ago, causing $11 billion in damage.
Thousands of residents have begun evacuating Florida’s west coast, seeking shelter as Milton threatens catastrophic winds, storm surges and flooding.
Keep reading:
• Hurricane Milton: shelters begin to fill amid mass evacuation in Florida
• What time will Hurricane Milton arrive in Florida?
• Biden warns that Hurricane Milton would be the most devastating for Florida in a century