Two people have died and 20 others are missing in the eastern US state of North Carolina after heavy rains led to massive flooding, officials said Thursday.

Governor Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after Tropical Storm Fred dumped nearly a foot (30 centimeters) of rain in western parts of the state in recent days.

"Historic" flooding is taking place in Haywood County along the Pigeon River, Cooper's office said in a statement.

Ground, water and aerial rescue teams were searching for the missing and clearing the area, the county said.

So far, nearly 100 people have been rescued from the floodwaters. The floods damaged or destroyed many roads and bridges in the area and power outages hit thousands of homes.

"We have been searching abandoned vehicles, homes (and) buildings for survivors," Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher told WYFF4, a local media outlet. "And we'll continue the search to ensure that every community member is located or at least accounted for."

Cooper expressed hope that the state of emergency will facilitate rescue efforts.

"North Carolina is strong and resilient, and we're committed to helping people and businesses recover as quickly as possible," he said.

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Seven dead in Addis Ababa flash floods
Addis Ababa (AFP) Aug 18, 2021
Seven people have died in flash flooding that hit the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa after torrential rains, officials said on Wednesday. Images from the capital showed firefighters wading through brown water to inspect flooded houses and in one instance walking through sludge with a stretcher to remove a body. Houses and cars were submerged by the waters after the downpour which pelted several neighbourhoods of Addis Ababa on Tuesday, causing chaos. Mayor Adanech Abiebie said on Twitter afte ... read more