5 dead after Hurricane Milton-spawned twister rips through Florida retirement community
Before Hurricane Milton made landfall, shortly after ripping through Florida, it spawned several twisters that tore through neighborhoods and caused major damage to homes. In one county, five people were killed.
On Wednesday afternoon, St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson confirmed multiple people were found dead at the Spanish Lakes Country Club, a senior living community near Fort Pierce.
That day, 19 tornadoes touched down throughout the state, and the National Weather Service issued over 120 tornado warnings.
St. Lucie County captured video of one twister touching down and ripping through a community, unearthing trees and branches. A tornado also destroyed a steel storage building used by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
On Thursday, officials said five people were killed in St. Lucie after the tornado outbreak. As recovery efforts continue, the deceased have not been identified. Family members told the New York Times three of the victims were Sandra MacDonald, 84; Alejandro Alonso, 66; and Mary Grace Viramontez, 70.
In South Florida, five of seven tornadoes have been confirmed to have touched down. Forecasters are still assessing how strong they were.
READ MORE: Tornadoes spotted in southern Florida as Hurricane Milton approaches. Here’s where
One twister touched down in Palm Beach County, damaging nearly 100 homes. Video shows a dumpster was flung into one residence.
This story was originally published October 10, 2024 at 5:51 PM.
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