Hurricane Helene Devastates Southeastern U.S., Claims Over 40 Lives

Hurricane Helene has left more than 40 dead and millions without power across the southeastern United States, The Guardian reported today.

Making landfall late Thursday in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, the storm weakened to a tropical storm but continues to cause severe flooding.

South Carolina reported 17 fatalities, including two firefighters, while Georgia saw 15 deaths. Florida’s Pinellas County recorded five fatalities, primarily from drowning and falling trees. Rescue operations are ongoing, with emergency crews working to save those stranded by rising waters.

Power outages have affected over 1.1 million households in Florida and more than a million in South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina. Evacuation orders were issued near local dams at risk of failure.

Officials warn that the death toll may rise as damage assessments begin.