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Matthew Death Toll In Florida Climbs To 9

A car drives past a downed tree as Hurricane Matthew moves through Daytona Beach, Fla. Friday, Oct. 7, 2016. Matthew was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane overnight, and its storm center hung just offshore as it moved up the Florida coastline, sparing communities its full 120 mph winds. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A car drives past a downed tree as Hurricane Matthew moves through Daytona Beach, Fla. Friday, Oct. 7, 2016. Matthew was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane overnight, and its storm center hung just offshore as it moved up the Florida coastline, sparing communities its full 120 mph winds. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Florida officials say eight deaths are now blamed on Hurricane Matthew, raising the death toll from five.

The state's tally includes two deaths in Miami-Dade County, one each in Orange, Putnam and Duval counties and three in Volusia County.

The three deaths reported by Volusia officials include a woman struck by a falling tree during the storm, an elderly man later electrocuted by a downed power line and a boy who inhaled generator fumes.

County officials said Tuesday that a worker removing trees in the storm aftermath died after a large log rolled on top of him Monday night. It was not immediately clear whether his death is part of the state tally.

Matthew brushed Florida's Atlantic coastline last week, staying just offshore as it moved from the Miami area to Jacksonville.

The storm has been blamed for more than 500 deaths in Haiti and 30 in the United States — half of those in North Carolina.

Update:  

Florida officials say nine deaths are now blamed on Hurricane Matthew.

The state's tally includes two deaths in Miami-Dade County, one each in Orange, Putnam and Duval counties and four in Volusia County.

The four deaths reported by Volusia officials include a woman struck by a falling tree during the storm, an elderly man later electrocuted by a downed power line, a boy who inhaled generator fumes and a worker crushed by a large log while removing trees in the storm aftermath.

 

The Associated Press is a wire service to which WUFT News subscribes.