The number of deaths due to the catastrophic floods in eastern Kentucky amounted to 16, including six children, state officials reported Friday.
“Guys, that’s going to get much higher,” Governor Andy Beshear warned at a briefing Friday. Earlier, the governor said the death toll was expected to rise to 30.
The six children who died include four brothers ages 8, 6, 4 and 1 who ended up swept away by rising water, Beshear said. Amber Smith and Riley Noble, parents of the four children, were found alive, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
The Governor further confirmed the death of a 81 year old Perry County woman, a 79, a woman from 65 and another from 76 years.
Most of the deaths occurred in Knott County, including a man of 63 years old and a woman of 65, as well as two other children, added Beshear.
More than 200 people have sought refuge after aggressive flooding, while 23,000 Kentucky residents remain without power, Fox News reported.
PowerOutage.us noted that 16,200 customers have been affected following deadly floods and landslides that destroyed hundreds of vehicles and homes.
Search and rescue teams backed by the National Guard attempted to track down the individuals missing in helicopters and boats. Beshear could not provide the number of missing people, considering it “difficult”.
Meanwhile, the governor warned that eastern and central Kentucky are under flood watch.
“Although rainfall totals are not expected to be as high, flooding remains a concern due to saturation of the land. Please stay safe and alert, Kentucky,” the Beshear said on Twitter.
The National Weather Service (NWS) for the town of Jackson wrote on Twitter that the area would see a “decent break” Friday night through Saturday.
“More rains and storms arrive from Sunday to Tuesday, with heavy rains possible on Sunday and Monday” the agency indicated.