Panama City, Oct 11 (AFP) Hurricane Michael has killed one person in northern Florida, an official in Gadsden County west of the state capital Tallahassee told AFP, giving the first confirmed death from the powerful storm.

There is "one hurricane-related fatality," said Olivia Smith, public information officer for the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners, adding that the incident was "debris-related. There was a tree involved." She could not say what time the death occurred or give any details about the victim.

Smith said the situation was dangerous even for emergency personnel.

"We've been very cautious with sending our first responders out right now," she said, after Michael made landfall as a raging Category 4 hurricane that toppled trees and power lines.

Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida coast on Wednesday as the most powerful storm to hit the southern US state in more than a century as officials warned it could wreak "unimaginable devastation".

Michael made landfall as a monstrous Category 4 storm near Mexico Beach, a town about 20 miles (32 kilometres) southeast of Panama City, around 1:00 pm Eastern time (1700 GMT), the National Hurricane Center said. (AFP) IJT

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