Death toll from storm Helene in US rises to at least twenty, including deadly tornado

atlanta/miami - The death toll from the passage of the tropical storm Helene in the United States has further risen, with more than twenty deaths reported, including two from a deadly tornado in Georgia. The storm caused extensive damage in Florida and other states.

The number of deaths following the passage of the tropical storm Helene in the United States has risen to at least twenty, with reports of extensive damage, including two fatalities from a deadly tornado in Georgia.

Warnings described Helene as an 'extremely dangerous' hurricane, with wind speeds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour and storm surges of up to 6 meters high. However, a few hours after Helene made landfall in Florida on Thursday evening, meteorological services downgraded the hurricane to a category 1 tropical storm.

While the downgrade reduced the wind speeds, the storm still caused significant flooding and water damage, leaving approximately four million Americans without electricity due to flooding and strong winds.

There is currently uncertainty regarding the number of fatalities, with CNN reporting 23 deaths, ABC News reporting 26 deaths, and The New York Times mentioning 20 deaths. The fatalities occurred in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, with Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida expressing concern over additional casualties and widespread destruction of homes. The full extent of the damage is yet to be assessed in daylight, according to The Times.

Experts highlight that climate change is increasing the likelihood of severe storms. The Atlantic hurricane season begins in early June and extends through late November.