The man who left his dog stranded, tied to a fence on a highway ahead of Hurricane Milton's landfall in Florida has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

US man who abandoned his dog in Florida amid Hurricane Milton charged with animal cruelty

The death toll from Hurricane Milton rose to at least 16 on Friday, officials in Florida said, as residents began the painful process of piecing their lives and homes back together.

Hurricane Milton: At least 16 dead, millions left without power in Florida as US state reels from deadly storm

Hurricane Milton plowed into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after cutting a destructive path across Florida that spawned tornadoes, killed at least 10 people and left millions without power, but the storm did not trigger the catastrophic surge of seawater that was feared.

Florida reels from Hurricane Milton: 10 dead, millions left without power