Hurricane Ian updates: Florida death toll climbs

Lee County, which encompasses Fort Myers, accounts for most of the fatalities.

The remnants of Ian are charging up the East Coast on Saturday after making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in South Carolina on Friday afternoon.

The monster storm made its first U.S. landfall on Wednesday on Florida's west coast as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, shredding homes with ferocious winds topping 150 mph. Florida's death toll has climbed to at least 81, according to information from local officials.


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At least 30 rescues in Naples Wednesday

There were at least 30 rescues in Naples, Florida, on Wednesday amid ongoing rescue operations, the Collier County Sheriff's Office said.

"Our East Naples deputies did 30 rescue missions today. We are still collecting numbers from other areas. We are still rescuing people," the office wrote on Facebook.

"Water is everywhere. It will recede. There will be damage," it added. "Tomorrow we will have a better idea of the extent of damage. We will keep you updated."


More than 2 million customers without power in Florida

The number of customers without power in Florida has topped 2 million, as Hurricane Ian continues making its way across the state.

Most of the outages are in the southern Gulf side of the state, primarily in Lee, Collier, Charlotte and Sarasota counties.

The outages are moving east as the storm moves across the state.

-ABC News' Darren Reynolds


Jacksonville mayor announces closure of 3 major beaches

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry announced Wednesday evening that the city is closing Atlantic, Neptune and Jacksonville beaches ahead of Hurricane Ian’s impact on the area.

“We will reopen as soon as it’s safe for citizens,” Curry tweeted.


Ian downgraded to Category 2 hurricane

Hurricane Ian has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm as of a 9 p.m. ET update, with winds now at 105 mph.

-ABC News' Riley Winch


Several Florida airports set to reopen Friday

Tampa International Airport, St. Pete-Clearwater International, Orlando International Airport and Jacksonville International Airport are all set to reopen Friday.

Tampa's first flight is scheduled to arrive at 10:35 a.m. and Orlando will resumer passenger flights after noon. The reopening will be gradual. Orlando already has 445 canceled flights today. Tampa has 152 canceled as of 9:45 a.m.

Jacksonville reopened its Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at 7 a.m. and the airport will be on a reduced operating schedule Friday.

The Federal Aviation Agency closed the Fort Myers airspace to provide a safe environment for search and rescue. It will remain closed Friday.

The Fort Myers Airport will be closed for days, with the FAA saying it won't reopen until at least Oct. 7. United Airlines has canceled all flights out of the airport at least through Monday.

The airports with the most cancelations Friday are Orlando, Tampa and Charlotte, North Carolina.

-ABC News' Sam Sweeney