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Port Tampa Bay resumes vessel operations

Port Tampa Bay resumed vessel operations and the port's shipping channels reopened, with vessel motions restricted to daylight hours, it stated on Saturday, days after Hurricane Milton barreled through Florida.

A few of the very first vessels to return will be fuel tankers, cruise liner and vessels bring disposable freight, Port Tampa Bay stated in statement.

Port Tampa Bay, Florida's largest freight port by tonnage, was shut for all vessel traffic from Oct. 8 due to typhoon Milton. More than 43% of Florida's fuel imports move through Port Tampa Bay, according to the port's website.

Increasing floodwaters, fuel lacks and power blackouts are hindering cleanup efforts in Florida after Milton, that made landfall as a Classification 3 typhoon.

Milton compounded the destruction left by Hurricane Helene which hit less than two weeks previously. At least 17 deaths have been reported from Milton, far less than the more than 200 individuals killed by Helene.

(source: Reuters)