Fatalities from heavy flooding in Kentucky have increased to 28, reported local authorities.
Andy Beshear, Governor of Kentucky, announced on his Twitter account this Saturday the catastrophic figure, and warned that the number may possibly increase.
“We have some difficult news for share from eastern Kentucky today, where we are still in the search and rescue phase,” the governor said. “Our death toll has risen to 28, and the number is likely to rise.”
“ To everyone in Eastern Kentucky, we will be there for you today and in the weeks, months and years to come. We are going to get through this together,” added Beshear.
At a press conference on Saturday, the governor noted that the deaths were spread across five counties and that some families lost almost all of their members in their home.
Furthermore, he pointed out that it is believed that the number of deceased children so far is only four, and not six as initially reported.
“The two children originals that informed us turned out to be adults,” said the governor, noting that the numbers are constantly changing.
Efforts to rescue people continued on Friday. Hundreds of people have been rescued, according to Beshear.
On the other hand, more than 330 people they have sought refuge in the floods that have left houses completely under water and vehicles destroyed. There are currently 16 active emergency shelters.
Roads have suffered the ravages of the floods, since the landslides have blocked at least 28 state highways.
The governor’s office also reported power outages water, with systems in the town of Jackson and the city of Fleming-Neon and more than 20 systems with limited operations.
Meanwhile, more than 18,000 Kentucky residents were without power Saturday afternoon.
President Biden declared a federal disaster and Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Deanne Criswell, stressed that the agency would bring the necessary resources to assist in search and recovery efforts.
With information from Fox News / The Associated Press