NewsNews overnight: Israeli airstrikes on Beiruit, tensions rise, hurricane in Florida
News overnight: Israeli airstrikes on Beiruit, tensions rise, hurricane in Florida
It happened while you were sleeping. Here's what global agencies reported overnight from Thursday to Friday.
- At least 13 people lost their lives in Florida due to Hurricane Milton, which caused tornadoes, flooding, and fallen trees. CNN reported the tragic effects of the disaster on Thursday, citing local authorities. President Joe Biden emphasized that the precautions taken saved many lives, but he warned that the death toll might still rise, as often the most tragic incidents occur after the storm passes. The heaviest losses were recorded in St. Lucie County, located on Florida's east coast, where at least six people died. Local services reported that nine tornadoes were observed there in just 90 minutes. Further casualties were noted in other regions of the state. Two people died in St. Petersburg near Tampa, although the causes of their deaths remain unknown, four people died in Volusia County, and one in Citrus County—some of these deaths were due to trees being knocked down by hurricane-force winds. The hurricane left approximately 3.4 million Florida residents without power, and some areas experienced severe flooding.
- In Israeli airstrikes on central Beirut that took place Thursday evening, at least 22 people were killed, and 117 were injured, announced the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Media highlight that the attacks targeted densely populated areas of the city that Israeli bombardments had not previously targeted. According to reports from the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the dead include an eight-member family, including three children, who were attempting to flee from the south of the country. The Associated Press (AP) reported two main attacks: "The first one destroyed the lower part of an eight-story residential building in the Ras al-Naba district, and after the second one, a building in the Burj Abi Haydar district completely collapsed." Meanwhile, the Reuters agency, citing Lebanese sources in the security apparatus, reported that one of the targets of the Israeli airstrikes could have been a senior Hezbollah leader, Wafik Safa, who survived the attack. Reuters also adds that "Israel struck Beirut districts that were not previously attacked."
- In the former Mollie Kathleen gold mine in Cripple Creek, Colorado, currently a tourist attraction, a tragic elevator failure occurred. As a result of the accident, one person died, and 12 people were trapped underground, reported the AP on Thursday, citing local authorities and sources in Teller County. The accident happened about 492 feet below the surface, where, as highlighted by Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell, there were mechanical problems with the elevator, posing a "serious threat." We want to ensure they are safe before we pull people out. If we have to, we can do it with ropes. However, this also endangers the rescuers, said Mikesell, referring to the possibility of emergency evacuation using ropes. Currently, tourists are trapped approximately 1,000 feet underground and have water and blankets, allowing them to survive while waiting for help. Rescuers are assessing the elevator's damage before potentially restarting it. The race against time continues as safety specialists try to determine if the elevator mechanism could cause another tragedy. We want to ensure the elevator is started safely, added the sheriff. Among the group trapped is a person with experience in mine rescue, which may be key to maintaining order and calm during the crisis. In radio communication, they were not informed of the full scale of the problem "to keep them calm," the authorities emphasize.
