Several dead after suspected tornadoes ripped through Saint Lucie County

FORT PIERCE, Fla – Hours before Hurricane Milton made landfall, it triggered a tornado outbreak along Florida's east coast.

Suspected tornadoes ripped through Palm Beach and Martin counties.

Videos show the huge funnel clouds appearing to touch the ground as cars on the highway tried to escape the storm.

In Saint Lucie County, north of Fort Pierce, several suspected tornadoes resulted in several deaths, Sheriff Keith Pearson said Wednesday evening.

“We've lost some lives, search and rescue teams are on the way, our deputies are out here, the fire department is out here, we're searching through the rubble and trying to rescue everyone we can and provide any assistance we can .” “Pearson said.

The deaths are from Spanish Lakes Country Club in the Spanish Lakes Community, Pearson said.

The damage left behind was already visible on the ground in Wellington.

A car was smashed into a tree in a residential area.

A man who lives in the neighborhood told Local 10 News about some of the damage, such as: E.g. cladding torn off houses, fallen trees, broken windows and branches left in a house.

Pauline Cornish was in her house when the storm passed.

“I keep saying I’m alive, so I’m grateful,” she said.

While several injuries were reported in Wellington, officials said fortunately there were no reports of fatalities.