Australia PM offers support to US hit by hurricane

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Friday that his country was prepared to provide support to the US for those affected by hurricane Ian in Florida after he extended his country's "deepest sympathies" for the devastation.

Ian, a monstrous Category 4 hurricane, has been declared as one of the strongest storms ever to hit the U.S. Four people were confirmed dead in Florida, a historic waterfront pier destroyed and electricity knocked out from 2.67 million Florida homes and businesses.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Ian was expected to hit South Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane on Friday.