United States President Donald Trump has said that the devastation caused due to Hurricane Irma in the region was worst than anyone expected.
"The devastation left by Hurricane Irma was far greater, at least in certain locations ,than anyone thought - but amazing people working hard!" Trump tweeted.
Hurricane Irma has slammed into southwest Florida, threatening to bring dangerous storm surges to coastal areas, already battered by the hurricane's powerful winds.
The National Hurricane Center said, in its latest advisory, that Irma, now a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph, is about 5 miles north of Naples, Florida.
Trump has approved a request from Florida for a disaster declaration ordering federal aid to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts.
The action makes federal funding available in nine counties, including Miami-Dade and Hillsborough, which covers Tampa.
Earlier, the center of Hurricane Irma made a landfall in the Marco Island, near Naples, in southwest Florida as a Category 3 hurricane.
The Marco Island Police Department reported a 130 mph wind gust .
The Naples Municipal Airport also reported a gust of 142 mph, near reports of 135mph gust and sustained winds of 93mph - the most powerful recorded gusts on the mainland.
This was the second landfall in Florida. Irma hit Cudjoe Key earlier in the day as a Category 4 storm.
A crane was also reported to have partially collapsed at a construction site on NE 31st Street. This was the second construction crane to collapse in the city.
More than 5,60,000 residents across 19 counties in south and central Florida are without power, according to Florida Power and Light Department.
In another tweet, Trump said he is fascinated to watch people writing books and major articles about him despite not knowing about him.
"Fascinating to watch people writing books and major articles about me and yet they know nothing about me & have zero access. #FAKE NEWS!," Trump tweeted.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
