• Wion
  • /World
  • /Elon Musk to provide Starlink satellite internet service in Florida ravaged by Hurricane Ian

Elon Musk to provide Starlink satellite internet service in Florida ravaged by Hurricane Ian

Elon Musk to provide Starlink satellite internet service in Florida ravaged by Hurricane Ian

Elon Musk

SpaceX chief Elon Musk has agreed to providethe company's satellite internet service, Starlink, to help the people of Southwest Florida, which is battered by Hurricane Ian.

The state has been without power and internet ever since the superstorm made landfall on Friday in the southwest region.

"We are working with Elon Musk and Starlink satellite. They are positioning those Starlink satellites to provide good coverage in Southwest Florida and other affected areas," DeSantis told reporters on Saturday.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Meanwhile, thedeath toll in one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the United States crossed 44. President Joe Biden will be heading down to the state to make an assessment of the damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

Late Saturday,the Florida Medical Examiners Commission put the death figure to 44 statewide, but there are reports of additional fatalities emerging across many counties.

Several US media outlets like NBC and CBS put the toll figures up to 70 alone in Lee countyeither directly or indirectly related to the storm.

Apart from that, widespread damages have been reported across the state with homes, restaurants and businesses being ripped apart after Hurricane Ian made an impactand attained the dangerous Category 4 hurricane on Wednesday.

Moreover, over 900,000 people were cutoff from power in Florida Saturday night, impeding evacuation efforts by the rescue teams, reported AFP.

InNorth Carolina and Virginia, more than 45,000 people remained without power, tracking website poweroutage.us said on Saturday.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: