"5th Largest Ever" Mega Hurricane Makes Landfall in Florida, USA... 60cm Heavy Rainfall (Summary)

Hurricane Ian observed from the International Space Station
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] "It will be one of the five major hurricanes to hit the state of Florida, USA."

A massive hurricane that struck Cuba made landfall in the southeastern U.S. state of Florida on the 28th (local time). Hurricane Ian, accompanied by strong winds reaching up to 155 mph (about 250 km/h) and heavy rain, is expected to cause damage estimated between $20 billion and $40 billion (28.5 trillion to 57 trillion KRW). More than one million households in Florida have already lost power.

According to local media including The New York Times (NYT), Hurricane Ian made landfall around 3 p.m. near Cayo Costa, an island close to Fort Myers on Florida's west coast. Later, around 5 p.m., Hurricane Ian passed through Punta Gorda in Charlotte County, Florida.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Initially classified as a Category 3 hurricane, Hurricane Ian intensified to Category 4 after passing over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It is currently accompanied by winds reaching up to 250 km/h (155 mph), nearing Category 5 status. Winds exceeding 157 mph qualify as Category 5, the highest rating. In the past 30 years, only two hurricanes have made landfall in the U.S. as Category 5: Hurricane Michael in 2018 and Hurricane Andrew in 1992, both of which struck Florida.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said in an evening press briefing, "It is too early to know the full extent of the storm's damage," but added that Hurricane Ian will be one of the five major hurricanes to hit Florida. He described it as a "major storm" and explained that over 1.1 million power outages have been reported as Ian moves through central Florida, with the number expected to rise.

Hurricane Ian is expected to cause significant damage due to strong winds and heavy rainfall of up to 2 feet (about 60 cm). Storm surges of up to 12 feet have been confirmed in some areas. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned that sea levels could rise as much as 18 feet (about 5.5 meters) in some parts of the southwestern Florida coast directly affected by Hurricane Ian.

NYT cited the Insurance Information Institute, reporting that multiple simulations estimate damages between $20 billion and $40 billion. The scale of damage will depend on the storm's future path and intensity. Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 hurricane that struck Florida in 2018, caused 16 deaths and $25 billion (about 36 trillion KRW) in property damage. Insurance losses alone reached $15.5 billion, reportedly causing the bankruptcy of 11 insurance companies.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

A state of emergency has already been declared across Florida, with evacuation orders issued for 2.5 million residents. Curfews have been imposed in some areas such as Naples, Florida, where water levels have risen to waist height for adult men. Airports, ports, and schools have been closed. Disney World in Orlando, Florida, will suspend operations until the 29th. Walmart has closed 216 Walmart and Sam's Club stores across Florida. A CBS-affiliated broadcast studio in Fort Myers was flooded, causing broadcasts to be suspended around 5 p.m.

Governors of neighboring Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina have also declared states of emergency. These areas are expected to be in Hurricane Ian's next path. Approximately 11% of oil facilities in the nearby Gulf of Mexico have also been shut down due to safety concerns.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.