Heavy floods & storms cause 18 deaths in Southern & Midwest US

KATHMANDU: Severe flooding and storms in the southern and midwestern United States have resulted in at least 18 deaths.

According to the Associated Press (AP), the fatalities occurred due to a storm on Saturday followed by continuous rainfall, with the death toll reaching 18 by Sunday, local time.

The victims include 10 people from western Tennessee, 2 from Kentucky, 2 from Missouri, 1 from Indiana, and 1 from Arkansas.

The locations of two other victims have not been disclosed.

The storm, which stretched from Arkansas to Ohio, caused rivers to swell and resulted in flooding, particularly in Tennessee and Kentucky, due to persistent heavy rain.

The National Weather Service reported that the most damage occurred in Tennessee, where 10 people lost their lives due to the storm. Over a thousand homes, businesses, roads, and public spaces were submerged.

In Kentucky, a 9-year-old child was swept away by floodwaters while heading to the school bus, and in Arkansas, a 5-year-old died when a tree fell on his house.

In Missouri, a 16-year-old volunteer lost his life during a rescue operation for people trapped by the storm.

According to the mayor of Frankfort, Kentucky, the river’s depth had reached over 47 feet by Sunday, and it was expected to exceed 49 feet by Monday morning.

The city’s flood wall system can withstand up to 51 feet of water, and officials believe it will prevent flooding if the water level remains below that threshold.

Weather officials have issued warnings for potential flooding in other regions, as heavy rainfall continues in Alabama, Georgia, and parts of Florida.

Emergency authorities in Kentucky’s northern and central regions have ordered mandatory evacuations for areas like Flemingsburg and Butler, recalling a similar flood event 30 years ago, which resulted in five deaths when the river reached 50 feet (15 meters).

The National Weather Service has warned that large-scale flooding could recur in several states, and additional storm systems could bring further danger.

This recent storm follows a deadly severe weather outbreak on March 16, which caused 34 deaths across six southern states, including Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and Oklahoma.