Hurricane Ian death toll climbs past 80 amid criticism over storm response

Death toll likely to increase as questions raised over whether officials in some parts of Florida ordered evacuations in time

The death toll from Hurricane Ian has climbed past 80 as embattled residents in Florida and the Carolinas face a recovery expected to cost tens of billions of dollars, and some officials faced criticism over their response to the storm.

The death toll was expected to keep rising as flood waters receded and search teams pushed further into areas initially cut off from the outside world. Hundreds of people have been rescued as emergency workers sifted through homes and buildings inundated with water or completely washed away.