A time-lapse video recording of Fort Myers Beach in West Florida has captured the devastating impact of Hurricane Milton as the storm makes landfall in the United States.
From the outset of the video, it is clear that the wind is already strong enough to cause surrounding palm trees to bend under its force and within seconds water is flooding the main road.
As the storm strengthens, the water quickly builds to a 4.5 metre, roughly 15 feet, storm surge with a visibly powerful current carrying wooden and plastic debris.
In minutes, a beachside building gives way under the rush of water and the roof remains barely visible as the structure is carried away by the waves.
The Category 3 storm made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County at around 20:30 local time on Wednesday night.
The hurricane knocked out power for more than three million homes and businesses and weather forecasts indicate the storm will continue to batter Florida until Friday, when conditions begin to ease as the hurricane moves out into the Atlantic.
Ahead of the storm reaching Florida, more than seven million residents were placed under a mandatory evacuation notice, but many have chosen to remain in place, hunkering down in their homes to ride out the storm.
State Governor Ron DeSantis pleaded with Floridians to evacuate earlier this week, warning: “Belongings can be replaced – your life cannot”.
On Thursday morning, authorities in St Lucie County reported two people had been killed in a tornado, one of an estimated 27 triggered by the hurricane.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue also reported five people were taken to hospital after multiple reports of tornadoes in the area.
Flash flooding alerts have also been issued across several counties in Florida, affecting roughly two million residents, as huge downpours are likely to cause severe damage to properties across the state.
A warning issued by the National Weather Service on Thursday morning ordered residents of Palm Coast, Palatka and Flagler Beach to “move immediately to higher ground”.
In some areas, emergency services have been forced to suspend operations as the conditions have made attending callouts near impossible.
Floridians who have not evacuated already have been told to shelter in place until the storm passes and remain up to date with weather alerts.
