hampering

Just 13 days later, Milton barreled across Florida, leaving millions without power and hampering ports, feed facilities, and fertilizer plants along the state's west coast.

Critics say governments have not gone far enough with these initiatives, while pointing out public health spending has been squeezed in the past decade, hampering the ability of healthy lifestyle programmes to have an impact.

“Steep, rugged terrain with limited access is hampering firefighting efforts,” the department wrote in an X post updating the fire’s progress.

Hundreds of roads remain closed, hampering efforts to send aid to hard-hit communities.

At least 40 of those dead were in the west of North Carolina, where 300 roads remain closed, hampering recovery operations, as well as the delivery of much needed food and water.