Dramatic before and after images show scale of Hurricane Ian’s destruction in Florida
Hurricane Ian has ripped through southwestern Florida causing mass flooding, destroying thousands of homes and leaving an estimated two million people without power.
The storm is one of the strongest hurricanes ever to hit the United States, with sustained winds at almost 150mph, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
Before and after images of the affected areas demonstrate the scale of the destruction.
Storm ‘doing a number’ on Florida – Hurricane Ian live updates
The city of Fort Myers and its surrounding islands were among the first hit by Hurricane Ian when it made landfall at 5pm on Wednesday.
The images at the top of this page are taken from videos taken facing northwest on Estero Boulevard, which is a resort area just south of Fort Myers city.
The image on the left was shared on Instagram just as the storm began to hit. In it, there is flooding in the road but the swimming pool and parking area remain untouched.
But in the right-hand shot, which was posted just two hours after, the pool and car park are completely submerged. Cars also appear to be floating in the deluge.
In the image on the left, the car park is clear but it is completely submerged in the image shared just two hours later. Pic: loniarchitects via Instagram
A second comparison shows the extent of the flooding in the nearby car park more clearly.
This time-lapse footage shows a similar scene in Sannibel Island, which is situated just a few miles to the west.
The footage was captured by a traffic camera early yesterday afternoon local time, as the storm was approaching. Within just 30 minutes, the street was engulfed by rising floodwaters.
The coastal city of Naples, which is around 40 miles to the south, has also been severely affected.
This webcam captured the scene at the beach by Naples Pier after the hurricane hit.
Slide the marker across the image below to see what the beach looked like yesterday compared to three days ago.
These images taken from a video shared by the Naples Fire Department show the situation in the city itself.
High floodwaters can be seen outside this fire department building in the city of Naples. Pic: Naples Fire-Rescue Department
The bushes just outside the building are almost entirely submerged in several feet of water.
The red water pipes situated just to the left of the vehicle entranceway are also underwater.
The area outside the fire department building is under several feet of water. Pic: Naples Fire-Rescue Department
The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.
Charlie Kirk has been posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Donald Trump.
The USA’s highest civilian honour was received by the conservative activist’s widow, Erika, at the White House.
Mr Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on 10 September while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.
He founded Turning Point USA and toured American university campuses, debating students about current affairs.
Erika Kirk at the White House. Pic: Reuters
Erika Kirk and Donald Trump. Pic: Reuters
Addressing those attending the ceremony in the White House rose garden, the US president said they were there to “honour and remember a fearless warrior for liberty” and a “beloved leader who galvanised the next generation”.
He said Mr Kirk’s name was being entered “forever into the eternal roster of true American heroes”.
Mr Trump described Charlie Kirk as an “American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and the highest calibre”.
He said his nation had been “robbed” of an “extraordinary champion”.
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Has Charlie Kirk become a MAGA ‘martyr’?
And Mr Trump said Mr Kirk was assassinated in the “prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, for living his faith, and relentlessly fighting for a better and stronger America”.
The ceremony coincided with what would have been Mr Kirk’s 32nd birthday.
Mr Trump described Erika Kirk, now head of Turning Point USA, as someone who had “endured unspeakable hardship with unbelievable strength”.
Read more:
What do we know about Erika Kirk?
Charlie Kirk’s movement is growing in wake of his assassination
Charlie Kirk. File pic: AP
A 22-year-old man, Tyler Robinson, from the city of Washington in Utah has been charged with Mr Kirk’s murder. Prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty.
At a memorial event held at a stadium in Arizona, Erika Kirk told an enormous crowd she forgave her husband’s killer.
“The answer to hate is not hate,” she said.
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