At least 16 dead as Hurricane Milton clean up begins for Florida [Video]

AT LEAST 16 people are dead in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Milton, as rescuers begin to pick through the debris and damage scattered across the Sunshine State.

Rescuers were still saving people from swollen rivers yesterday, but many expressed relief the impact of the hurricane was not worse as it spared densely populated Tampa a direct hit and the lethal storm surge that scientists feared never materialised.

About 2.2 million homes remain without electricity across the state today.

St Petersburg’s 260,000 residents were told to boil water before drinking, cooking or brushing their teeth, until at least Monday.

Debris lies scattered on Manasota Key, Florida, following the passage of Hurricane Milton. Rebecca Blackwell / AP Rebecca Blackwell / AP / AP

The owner of a major phosphate mine disclosed that pollution spilt into Tampa Bay during the hurricane.

The Mosaic Company said in a statement yesterday that heavy rains from the storm overwhelmed a collection system at its …