“Multiple fatalities” reported at senior living community after tornado outbreak in Florida

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (WPEC) – Hurricane Milton spawned more than a dozen tornadoes, many of which touched down before the Category 3 storm even made landfall in Florida on Wednesday.

In St. Lucie County, there were several deaths following a tornado outbreak in the area, authorities said.

Sheriff Keith Pearson says the people were killed at the Spanish Lakes Country Club, a senior living community.

It was initially unclear how many people died or how many others were injured.

Search and rescue operations were underway on Wednesday evening.

A tornado even damaged a garage that houses emergency vehicles from the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at least 19 tornadoes were confirmed in Florida Wednesday evening as Hurricane Milton approached the state.

More than 115 tornado warnings have been issued across Florida.

An official count of the number of confirmed tornadoes will not be finalized until storm damage survey teams from the National Weather Service visit affected areas.

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