Tampa has become an empty, abandoned city as its residents carry out a mass evacuation in the face of the imminent arrival of Hurricane Milton.
The streets are completely deserted, with no vehicles or pedestrians moving along the avenues, and the silence is only interrupted by the thunder heard in the distance.
A video, recorded on Tuesday by the @cubaaqui profile on an important avenue in Tampa, shows the desolation that reigns in its streets. It is accompanied by a haunting message: "Tampa is a ghost town."
The mayor of Tampa, Jane Castor, issued a clear message to residents, warning about the deadly dangers posed by Hurricane Milton, a category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds of 250 km/h.
"Helene was a wake-up call. This is literally catastrophic. If you choose to stay in one of the evacuation areas, you are going to die," said the mayor, urging the population to evacuate to save their lives.
The west coast of Florida is facing one of the largest evacuations in its history. The roads, especially Interstate 75, are congested due to the massive flow of people still trying to escape the danger.
Rose Angelakopoulos, an officer of the Tampa police, was blunt in her statements: "To those who do not evacuate voluntarily, I recommend that you take a photo of your clothes so we can identify you when the storm passes."
In addition, he suggested that residents write their names and dates of birth on their arms with a permanent marker, to facilitate identification in case of rescues of the injured or collection of corpses.
Milton, classified as a major hurricane, continues its path toward Tampa, while hundreds of people keep seeking refuge away from the city, now empty and immersed in silence.
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