A revived Hurricane Ian pounded coastal South Carolina on Friday, ripping apart piers and flooding streets after the ferocious storm caused catastrophic damage in Florida, trapping thousands in their homes and leaving at least 27 people dead.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday warned that Hurricane Ian may end up being Florida's "deadliest" storm ever and cited fears there could be "substantial" numbers of fatalities across the state.

Hurricane Ian plowed into Florida's Gulf Coast with catastrophic force, unleashing howling winds, torrential rains and a treacherous surge of ocean surf.