Kentucky’s governor, Andy Beshear, has declared a state of emergency in six counties due to the devastation caused by torrential rainfall.
At least 25 people, including four children, have died as a result of storm-related flash flooding in Kentucky.
Governor Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency in six counties due to the devastation caused by torrential rainfall.
Homeowners were forced to swim to safety while others were rescued by boat as record-breaking flash flooding struck a US state.
The deluge has submerged entire Appalachian villages and sparked a desperate search for survival in some of the poorest areas in the United States.
“We are currently facing one of the most catastrophic flooding storms in the history of Kentucky,” he stated.
“Hundreds of homes will be lost.”
He estimated that it could take weeks to locate all of the victims of the flash floods.
An 81-year-old woman was among the deceased in Perry County, and local authorities report that numerous persons are still missing.
The floods represented the second significant national tragedy to strike Kentucky in seven months, following a cluster of almost 80 fatal tornadoes in the state’s western region in December.
“Our teams are assisting individuals affected around the clock. Numerous individuals remain unaccounted for “Governor Beshear stated.
He said: “This scenario persists. We are still engaged in search and rescue operations.”
Mr. Beshear has requested federal aid and stated that it could take years to repair the damage.
The national guard and state police have utilized helicopters and boats to rescue individuals stranded in the floodwaters, and evacuation centers have been established in state parks.
According to the website Poweroutage.us, more than 24,000 households are without electricity.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued flood warnings and watches throughout the day for the eastern part of the state, northeast Tennessee, and western West Virginia, where extra rainfall is forecast to increase waterways that are already well over flood thresholds.
