Following one of the “deadliest” hurricanes to ever hit Florida, the US president has plans to travel there. As the storm travels north, further warnings have been issued.
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that he is arranging a trip to Florida.
“When the conditions allow it, I’m going to be going to Florida,” the president said.
Biden was speaking at FEMA emergency management headquarters in Washington, which has been organizing the federal response to the disaster that has laid waste to swathes of the southern peninsula state.
“This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida history,” he said, adding that “The numbers… are still unclear, but we’re hearing reports of what may be a substantial loss of life.”
At least six deaths have been reported, but this number is expected to climb as rescue workers spread across the affected areas.
More than 2.5 million homes and businesses had been left without power by Thursday.
The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) issued a hurricane warning for the coastline of South Carolina, as Ian headed further north with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h).
Hurricane Ian has left vast amounts of damage and destruction in its wake