Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa as a powerful Category 4 system, and is continuing to wreak havoc across Florida.

Ian's strength at landfall tied it as fifth-strongest in the US, when measured by wind speed. Maximum sustained winds of 150mph were reported at landfall.

The system quickly weakened in hurricane status after landfall, although this did not mean weaker impacts in its path. Life-threatening storm surge has inundated and destroyed several areas, including Fort Myers as a result.

Hurricane Ian is the sixth Category 4 system to strike the Gulf Coast since 2017. The power was knocked out for over 2 million residents, leaving very little phone service and internet for people to communicate with their loved ones.

Houses and buildings have also been devastated, submerged in significant floods from storm surges of up to 5.5m, like the house in Naples below. Others, have been swept entirely to sea.

The hurricane has since been downgraded to a tropical storm, but substantial rains are still forecast. A second landfall is also expected on South Carolina's coast as a tropical storm or Category 1 hurricane.

Ian is expected to track along the Florida Peninsula, emerging in the North Atlantic and curving up towards the Carolinas on Friday September 30th.

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