At least 10 people have died. Plus, a deadly day of Israeli strikes in Gaza and Lebanon
Good morning.
The death toll from Hurricane Milton climbed to at least 10 on Thursday as Florida continued to assess the destruction from the category 3 storm that caused extensive property damage across the state and left more than 3.5m homes and businesses without power.
Five deaths were in a senior community in St Lucie county that was struck by a tornado formed in Milton’s outer bands, authorities there said. The tornado hit before the hurricane made landfall near Sarasota on Florida’s western coast on Wednesday evening.
A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a man who was found clinging to an ice box in the Gulf of Mexico after his boat was stranded overnight in waters roiled by Milton.At least 22 people killed and 117 wounded in Israeli strike on Beirut, health officials say – alongside new Gaza bombardment
At least 22 people have been killed and a further 117 wounded in Israeli strikes on central Beirut on Thursday night, Lebanese health officials reported. A passerby told the Guardian that families were fleeing the scene carrying mattresses and bags, with some bleeding from the ears from the force of the blasts.
Israeli media reported the target was Wafiq Safa, one of Hezbollah’s top political officials.
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USA — Political First Thing: Death toll climbs as Florida grieves Hurricane Milton’s destruction