Hurricane Yan strengthened on Friday towards South Carolina, where strong winds, heavy rain and dangerous rising water levels are expected after several areas in Florida were destroyed.

The loss of life from its passage through Florida is not yet conclusive, and authorities have reported 21 deaths, including 20 “unconfirmed” cases, meaning it has not yet been determined whether they were directly caused by the hurricane.

As for the amount of property loss, it is “historic” for Florida, where water levels have risen to an unprecedented degree, according to Ron DeSantis, the southeastern state’s governor.

Streets and houses were flooded, and boats anchored in the cities were washed away. Authorities in Kissimmee, near Orlando, used boats on Friday to rescue residents stranded in their homes in flooded areas.

President Joe Biden spoke again with DeSantis on Friday to discuss disaster response and said “the federal government will continue to act on behalf of the people of Florida,” White House press secretary Karen Jean-Pierre said.

Falling into the first category, Yan began to carry winds of 140 km per hour and threaten “fatal sea flooding” along the coasts of South Carolina and North Carolina, according to the latest bulletin issued by the National Hurricane Center, which put the entire Coastal region from Georgia to North Carolina. The Carolinas are on alert.

The hurricane is expected to reach South Carolina by Friday afternoon and then “weaken rapidly” as it progresses between Friday and Saturday, according to the same agency.

Rain and wind began in Charleston, in the southern state.