Washington: Reports of at least 10 deaths related to Hurricane Milton

There are reports of at least 10 fatalities associated with Hurricane Milton in the state of Florida, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a press conference on Thursday. US media had earlier reported at least six deaths.

"There is false information that federal employees, who are there to help people, will actually take their land," Mayorkas lamented. "And what we have seen is people reticent, reluctant to access the relief to which they are entitled and which will help them, because of the fear that that false information has instilled in them as just one example."

"The false information that is being spread deliberately does have a real life impact on survivors," he pointed out.

US President Joe Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris had earlier warned about disinformation, primarily spread by the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Mayorkas also mentioned threats against officers of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in this context.

"We are seeing horrific hate speech of all types propagated on online platforms," said Mayorkas. "That deplorable speech has an impact on people's lives, and it is also a motivating force for people to do harm."