Milton hurricane rapidly intensified on October 7th, with wind speeds reaching 257 km/h, making it a Category 5 hurricane — the highest level on the U.S. scale — just two days after forming in the Gulf of Mexico.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center predicts that Milton will make landfall on Florida’s west coast midweek as a high-intensity storm. The projected path shows that Hurricane Milton will strike the Tampa Bay area on October 9th and continue moving through Central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean.
Although Milton is smaller than the previous superstorm Helene, it will pass through more densely populated areas, increasing the risk of storm surges and causing significant damage.
Southern Florida has already begun to feel the initial impacts of the storm, with flooding reported in Miami-Dade County and the Everglades. Flood warnings are expected to remain in effect in many areas until October 10th. Forecast models are concerned that if Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Tampa Bay, it could cause severe storm surges and potentially become the region’s most catastrophic natural disaster in history.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 51 counties, advising residents to stock up on enough food and water for a week and be prepared for evacuation. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for many healthcare facilities and high-risk areas. Public services and schools in several places, such as Pinellas County, have been temporarily closed from October 7th to October 9th in response to Hurricane Milton.
Hurricane and storm surge warnings have been issued for multiple areas along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Heavy rainfall of up to 37 cm is expected to impact the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys from October 8th to October 9th.
Teen who went missing in 1998 found alive in neighbor’s cellar
An Algerian man who went missing at the age of 19 was found alive recently, astonishing his family and community.
Omar bin Omran, who disappeared in 1998, is now 45 years old. He was discovered in a neighbor’s cellar, just 650 feet away from his family’s home, according to Al Jazeera.
The discovery ended a 26-year-long mystery that began during the tumultuous period of the Algerian civil war. Given the extended duration of his disappearance, some relatives had presumed him dead. However, his mother, who passed away in 2013, reportedly never lost hope that her son would be found alive.
The suspected captor, a 61-year-old man, was arrested at the scene after attempting to flee, BBC reported. Algeria’s Ministry of Justice condemned the act as “heinous” and confirmed that an investigation is ongoing to uncover the full extent of the circumstances surrounding bin Omran’s captivity.
Currently, Omar bin Omran is receiving comprehensive medical treatment for both physical and psychological traumas, as reported by the BBC. Remarkably, bin Omran revealed that over the past 26 years, he occasionally saw some of his family members but was unable to reach out for help. He claimed that his captor had cast a “spell” on him, rendering him incapable of seeking assistance.
The bizarre and tragic kidnapping was brought to light recently due to an alleged inheritance dispute between the suspect and his brother. The suspect’s brother posted incriminating information on social media, which prompted the National Gendarmerie — responsible for police services in Algeria’s rural areas — to investigate further. This led to a search of the suspect’s house, resulting in the discovery of bin Omran.
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