Hurricane Frances weakens after Florida havoc

Hurricane Frances weakened to a tropical storm today and crawled inland with heavy rain after leaving two people dead and more than five million without power.

More than 13 inches (33cm) of rain fell along Florida’s central east coast, flooding some areas four feet (1.2 metres) deep, as a weakened Frances edged across the state toward Tampa and the Gulf of Mexico. In its wake, trees and power lines were flattened, broken traffic lights dangled and beachfront roads were littered with coconuts, avocados and tree limbs.