The death toll from the devastating storm Helene in the US has surged to at least 93, with Buncombe County in North Carolina reporting 30 fatalities alone. Rescuers are struggling to reach those in need across the southeastern regions of the country. The storm's aftermath has taken on a political dimension, as President Joe Biden and the two candidates vying to replace him, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, have announced plans to visit the hardest-hit areas, some of which are crucial battleground states in the upcoming November presidential elections.
High winds and torrential rains have battered towns and cities across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Homes have been destroyed, roads flooded, and power has been cut off to millions. 'We're hearing significant infrastructure damage to water systems, communication, roads, critical transportation routes, as well as several homes that have been just destroyed by this,' said Deanne Criswell, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, on Sunday.
At least 93 people have been killed in the extreme weather—37 in North Carolina, 25 in South Carolina, 17 in Georgia, 11 in Florida, two in Tennessee, and one in Virginia, according to tallies from local authorities compiled by AFP. This total is expected to rise. 'We have another devastating update. We now have 30 confirmed losses due to the storm,' said Quentin Miller, the sheriff in Buncombe County, which includes the tourist city of Asheville.
Flood warnings remain in effect in parts of western North Carolina, with concerns over potential dam failures. Conditions are expected to improve in the affected areas by around Tuesday, according to National Weather Service director Ken Graham. Helene made landfall on Florida's northern Gulf shore as a massive Category Four hurricane with winds of 140 miles (225 kilometers) per hour. Even as it weakened, it caused widespread destruction. North Carolina experienced some of the worst flooding, with Governor Roy Cooper stating that rescuers were being forced to airlift supplies in some areas due to damaged or flooded roads.
