The floods in Kentucky have been catastrophic and have filled the state with mourning, causing the death of 19 people, including four younger siblings of 10 years old, who were ripped from their mother’s arms by the waters.
The deceased minors were eight, six, four and one and a half years old, and their bodies were recovered in the Knott County community of Montgomery, Brittany Trejo, a cousin of the victims, told the Lexington Herald Leader.
Amber Smith and Riley Noble, the parents of the deceased children, live in Montgomery , and their home began to flood Thursday before the six-member family was swept away by a tidal wave.
And although they managed to hold on to a tree for hours, another tide came and swept them away, causing the parents to lose sight of their children.
“They climbed onto the roof (…) They managed to reach a tree ol and held the children for a few hours before a great tide came in and swept them all away at the same time. The mother and father were stranded in the tree for 8 hours before someone came to help”, explained Trejo.
“Little Riley Jr., six, and Nevaeh Noble, four, were found dead yesterday, and the bodies of Maddison Noble, eight, and Chance Noble, one and a half, were found Friday morning,” he added.
Unfortunately, the number of deaths is expected to increase after the devastating floods, as the Governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, warned that the figure could double and that the count “is going to include some children ”.
The area has been hit by severe thunderstorms, causing landslides and ‘years’ worth of damage in what is considered the most devastating flood in Kentucky history.