FORT PIERCE/ST PETERSBURG, Florida — Florida on Friday (Oct 11) was clearing downed trees and power lines and mopping up flooded neighbourhoods after Hurricane Milton roared through leaving at least 16 people dead.

While Milton did not trigger the catastrophic surge of seawater that was feared in Florida, one of many states hit by Hurricane Helene about two weeks ago, the clean-up operation could take many weeks or months for some people.

"It opens your eyes to what Mother Nature can do," said Chase Pierce, 25 of west St Petersburg, who, with his girlfriend, saw transformers blow up, sparks fly and a power line fall in the backyard.

The fifth-most-intense Atlantic hurricane on record, Milton could cost insurers alone up to US$100 billion (S$131 billion), analysts say.

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