Kentucky floods: Death toll rises to 25
The death toll from floods unleashed by torrential rains in eastern Kentucky has risen to 25 people including four children.
Kentucky State Governor Andy Beshear said more fatalities are expected.
“It is devastating. This is a type of flood that even an area that sees flooding has never seen in our lifetime. Hundreds of homes wiped away with nothing left.” @GovAndyBeshear joins @wolfblitzer to give an update on the historic flooding in Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/fF7RLQ1gi5
— CNN (@CNN) July 29, 2022
“This is still an emergency situation.
“We are in search and rescue mode. Again, that count is going to continue to go up.” Beshear told reporters.
Heavy rains of 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 cm) pounded the region from Wednesday into Thursday, sweeping through homes, washing out roads, and pushing rivers over their banks.
While the region’s steep hillsides and narrow valleys make it prone to flooding, experts are also blaming climate change.
Also read: Floods displace millions in Bangladesh, India
The floods were the second major national disaster to strike Kentucky in seven months, following a swarm of tornadoes that claimed nearly 80 lives in the western part of the state in December.
U.S President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in Kentucky on Friday, allowing federal funding to be allocated to the state.
Zainab Sa’id
