Four dead as cyclone Isaias drenches southern US

Four people died in the southeastern United States as post-tropical cyclone Isaias threatened flooding and tornado risks Saturday as it moved northward after making landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Isaias roared ashore late Friday as a Category 2 hurricane near the resort community of Destin, packing sustained winds of 105 miles (165 kilometers) per hour before weakening overnight, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

It was the first hurricane of an Atlantic season tamed by a historic El Nino weather phenomenon, and the first hurricane since 2024 to hit the US mainland.

In Mary Esther, a coastal community near Destin, Matt Howard said he was fortunate the storm weakened ahead of landfall.

Despite losing power and having his neighbor's metal shed crash into his backyard, "overall, we were okay," he told AFP.

"We hunkered down, got in the center of our house, and did all the things you're supposed to do, and luckily came out on the other side," he said.

Officials reported at least four deaths related to the storm, including two from trees falling on homes -- one near Pensacola in Florida and another in Birmingham, Alabama.

AFP reporters saw overturned vehicles, downed trees and power lines, and numerous buildings with damaged roofs.

Streets along the coast were largely deserted after authorities ordered mandatory evacuations ahead of the storm.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned at a briefing Saturday afternoon that threats remained even though the storm had passed.