Hurricane Ian is expected to hit the states of Georgia, South and North Carolina on Friday, after causing historic casualties and destruction in Florida.
After retreating to a tropical storm as it crossed Forda, the hurricane increased in strength as it headed yesterday toward South Carolina, with maximum winds of 120 kilometers per hour, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
This center said that the level of "Ian" may rise a little before reaching land today, to weaken quickly over the southeast of the country, and fade in the Atlantic Ocean late today or tomorrow.
The hurricane threatens a strip that extends hundreds of kilometers from Georgia to South Carolina, and expectations indicate that it will strike this afternoon local time Charleston, the largest city in this state, causing floods.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper called on residents to take the necessary measures, warning of floods and landslides, noting that the storm remains dangerous.
Victims and devastation
And "Ian" hit areas in Florida with winds reaching a maximum speed of 240 kilometers per hour.
State Governor Ron Decents described the devastation caused by Hurricane "Ian" as historic, and said that Florida had not experienced a hurricane of this magnitude, and Decents had anticipated the arrival of the hurricane by declaring a state of emergency.
President Joe Biden also said yesterday that "Ian" is the most violent in Florida, pointing to significant human losses.
CNN reported that this natural disaster caused the death of 17 people, while NBC reported 10 deaths.
The hurricane cut off electricity to 2.3 million homes, and the water level reached 4 meters in some areas of Florida, and thousands of people left their homes before the hurricane arrived, while others preferred to stay.
Meanwhile, the White House said that the president discussed with the governor of Florida his administration's steps to support efforts to confront the hurricane, and Biden said during his inspection of the Federal Emergency Management Agency center that rescue and search teams have been working since the early hours to rescue the victims of the hurricane.
For his part, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that his department is working to provide urgent support to those affected, adding that many workers in his ministry and their families were affected by the hurricane.