Hurricane 'Milton' Approaches Florida with Speeds Over 250 Kilometers per Hour

Less than two weeks after Hurricane 'Helen' submerged homes and buried streets in sand, Hurricane Milton is rapidly approaching western Florida. According to the Associated Press, 'Milton' has become a Category 5 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico as of Monday, October 7, and is expected to reach its peak on Tuesday. Although forecasts indicate that this hurricane will occur in the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, serious warnings about this hurricane have also been issued for the western Florida coast. Reports indicate that this hurricane is moving toward Florida and Tampa Bay, with speeds increasing to 257 kilometers per hour. The progression of this hurricane has heightened the need for clearing in the area, leading to evacuation orders and long lines for gasoline. Approximately 15 million people in Florida will be affected by flooding caused by this hurricane, and 11 million others are at risk of tropical tornadoes on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is expected that Hurricane Milton will peak on Tuesday and its effects will diminish on Wednesday. The death toll from Hurricane Helen has reached 215; Biden's trip to affected areas continues. The weather bureau in Tampa Bay announced in a briefing on Monday morning that Hurricane Milton will be a historic storm for the western Florida coast. This hurricane took about 19 hours to transition from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane, making it the fastest hurricane reported in the Atlantic region since 2020. Local officials state that the intensity of rainfall in this area is such that it will lead to destructive flooding, with a possibility of 38 centimeters of rain on Wednesday in the Florida Peninsula. The governor of Florida declared a state of emergency in western Florida on Sunday, stating, 'This hurricane can continue to grow larger and have devastating effects.' Last Thursday, Hurricane Helen entered the southeastern United States from the Atlantic, causing significant damage across six states with winds of 225 kilometers per hour. Power companies recently reported that about two million people in the affected states have lost electricity.