By The Diary
Sep 29, 2024, 9:53 PM EDT
Hurricane Helene has left almost 100 dead in six states in the southeastern United States, with North Carolina as the most affected, after its devastating passage since last Thursday.
The official count raises the death toll to 93, with North Carolina being the most affected state with 36 deaths, followed by South Carolina, which has recorded 25 deaths, including two firefighters. Georgia, Florida, Virginia and Tennessee have also suffered significant human losses.
In North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper has described Helene as “one of the worst storms in modern history” of the state.
In western North Carolina, especially in Asheville, the devastation is evident with homes destroyed and streets flooded with debris.
Torrential rains have caused landslides in mountainous areas, blocking more than 280 state highways and hampering rescue efforts. As a result, authorities are turning to air routes to bring supplies and aid to stranded people.
The number of victims could continue to rise, as the count of missing people is expected to be updated in the coming hours.
In fact, CBS has reported that the figure could be even higher, raising the death toll to 105, with 30 deaths reported in Buncombe County, one of the hardest hit areas in North Carolina.
Devastating effects
The effects of Hurricane Helene have been widespread and devastating throughout the region. In Unicoi County, east Tennessee, authorities are searching for more than 70 missing people.
Additionally, widespread blackouts have left 2.4 million people without power in the five most affected states. Living conditions in these areas are being worsened by the lack of access to basic services such as water and energy.
The hurricane, which was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Friday, is no longer being monitored by weather authorities, but continues to dump heavy rain in some areas, particularly in the southern Appalachian mountain range.
With information from EFE.
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