NAPLES, Florida (AP):
HURRICANE WILMA plowed into south-west Florida early yesterday with howling 125 mph (200 kph) winds blowing out skyscraper windows and knocking out power for millions.
At least five people were killed in Florida, bringing the death toll from the storm's march through the tropics to 24. The same storm that brought ruin on the weekend to resort towns along Mexico's Yucatan Coast came ashore in Florida as a strong Category Three hurricane, but within hours, had weakened into a Category Two with winds of 105 mph (169 kph). Early in the afternoon, it was back up to Category Three with 115 mph (185 kph) winds as it swirled out in the open Atlantic.
WIDESPREAD DAMAGE
As it made its away across the state, Wilma caused widespread damage, flattening trees, tearing off screens, breaking water mains, littering the streets with signs and downed power lines, and turning debris into missiles. Officials said it was the most damaging hurricane to hit the Fort Lauderdale area since 1950 and damage was estimated in the billions of dollars.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Alpha killed at least eight people in Haiti before the system moved north into the Atlantic Ocean and weakened into a tropical depression, authorities said yesterday.
The Atlantic season's record-breaking 22nd named storm also left 23 missing in Haiti and at least three in the neighbouring Dominican Republic .
