Death toll from Hurricane Milton now at 16, fatalities across seven Florida counties

The number of people who died as a result of Hurricane Milton hitting Florida has increased to 16 as of Friday, according to news reports.

The storm hit the state's Gulf Coast on Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane, swept across Florida, then went into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday morning.

Among the most recent deaths is a man in his 60s found dead Thursday in the Orlando area, after he apparently stepping on a downed power line, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office told CNN.

CNN as of Friday morning list the storms death toll by county as:

• St. Lucie: 6
• Pinellas: 2
• Volusia: 4
• Citrus: 1
• Hillsborough: 1
• Polk: 1
• Orange: 1