The death toll left by Hurricane Charley as it swept through the U.S. state of Florida rose to 16 by midday Sunday, Deputy Governor Toni Jennings said. She added the death toll could rise, as rescue workers continued to sift through debris the storm left in its wake. President George W. Bush visited the worst hit areas and pledged federal assistance to fund reconstruction. He rejected allegations he intended to use the catastrophe for electoral purposes in the closely contested state that proved crucial to his victory in 2000. Meanwhile Florida was bracing itself for the possibility of further storms. Meteorologists have warned that Tropical Storm Earl is on a similar course to Hurricane Charley and could strengthen to hurricane level and hit the Gulf of Mexico by Thursday if it maintains its current route. Hurricane Danielle is also brewing up over the eastern Atlantic. --MORE 2343 Local Time 2043 GMT
