- Storm Debbie causes flooding in southeastern United States
Tropical storm "Debby" has been causing heavy rain and flooding in the southeastern USA. In parts of the states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, entire streets were underwater, with people having to be rescued from their cars and even their homes, as reported by US media.
In the coastal city of Charleston, South Carolina, a curfew was imposed overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday (local time) "to keep people off the streets and ensure their safety, as well as that of our first responders," the city said.
Tens of thousands without power
"Debby" made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in Florida on Monday and was later downgraded to a tropical storm. According to media reports, the death toll in Florida and Georgia has risen to at least five, mainly due to falling trees and car accidents. As of early Wednesday morning, over 44,000 households in Florida were still without power, according to the website poweroutage.us.
The storm's center has since moved back over the sea, where it is expected to gain strength in the coming hours. Meteorologists predict that the storm will make landfall again in South Carolina on Thursday. The weather service warned of "potentially historic" rainfall in parts of South Carolina and neighboring North Carolina, as well as the possibility of isolated tornadoes.
Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean water. Climate change increases the likelihood of strong storms.
The power outages in Florida are causing significant challenges, with residents relying on backup generators for electricity. Due to the heavy rain and flooding, many electrical infrastructure systems have been damaged, leading to tens of thousands of homes and businesses without power.
