Deadly Helene floods spread to more US states


29-09-2024 10:22 AM

Ammon News - Torrential rain from Storm Helene has ravaged parts of North Carolina and Tennessee - the latest south-eastern US states to suffer in a disaster that has killed at least 63 people.

In North Carolina the mountain city of Asheville was largely cut off by flooding on Saturday, the BBC's US partner CBS News reported.

More than 400 roads remain closed in the state, where 10 people have died. Supplies are being airlifted to residents, state Governor Roy Cooper said.

Officials have continued daring rescues with boats, helicopters and large vehicles to help those stranded in floodwaters - including about 50 workers and patients who crowded on the roof of a flooded Tennessee hospital.

The storm began as a hurricane - the most powerful on record to hit Florida's Big Bend, and moved north into Georgia and the Carolinas after making landfall overnight on Thursday.

Although Helene has weakened significantly, forecasters warn that high winds, flooding and the threat of tornadoes could continue.

The damage is estimated at between $95bn and $110bn (£71bn-£82bn). Governor Cooper called it "one of the worst storms in modern history" to hit North Carolina.

Asheville, home to about 94,000 people and a popular tourism and arts hub, was swamped and eerily quiet on Saturday, CBS reported.

More storms could be on the horizon, officials warned, as the official end of hurricane season is not until 30 November.

BBC




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