Horrifying footage captures the moment a highway is clogged up with cars as millions attempt to flee - with locals starkly told: “If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re gonna die.”
is being dubbed the "biggest" exodus in years, bringing 155mph winds and an to parts of Florida's Gulf Coast by Wednesday. US government agencies have warned an "extremely life-threatening situation" is set to sweep impacted areas, causing significant damage to buildings and potentially making them uninhabitable for months.
Aerial footage of a , shows panicked residents attempting to evacuate the storm in their cars as it begins to churns in the Gulf of Mexico. Milton, which comes on heels of the destructive Hurricane Helene, has been predicted by experts to bring even more danger as debris from Helene could see flying projectiles resulting in fatal injuries.
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At least 232 people died across six states, including Florida, when Hurricane Helene struck the US last week. Tampa Bay Mayor Jane Castor warned anyone who remains "will die." Castor told CNN: “I can say without any dramatisation whatsoever if you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re gonna die.”
The National Service, a US government agency, meanwhile told residents in evacuation zones that the upcoming storm surge will present "an extremely life-threatening situation". It warned: "Hurricane #Milton is expected to grow in size and remain an extremely dangerous hurricane when it approaches the west coast of Florida on Wednesday.
"A large area of destructive storm surge will occur along parts of the west coast of Florida on Wednesday. This is an extremely life-threatening situation and residents in those areas should follow advice given by local officials and evacuate immediately if told to do so.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reassured those fleeing in their cars that there is enough petrol for them to fuel up and get out of harm's way. He said in a morning press briefing: "There is no fuel shortage. Fuel continues to arrive in the state of Florida. You do not have to get on the interstate and go far away. You can evacuate tens of miles; you do not have to evacuate hundreds of miles away. You do have options."
The Tampa Bay region hasn't been hit by a major hurricane in more than a century, but on Wednesday is set for brutal 111-129 mph winds and possible widespread flooding.
