Kentucky flood death toll hits 28 with more bodies expected ‘for weeks’
- Dozens unaccounted for in eastern Kentucky flooding disaster after record rainfall
- Authorities worked to provide food and shelter for thousands of displaced residents
Kentucky’s governor predicted bodies will continue to be found “for weeks” as the death toll from devastating flooding rose to 28 and rescuers embarked on a long and gruelling effort to locate victims.
Some areas in the mountainous region are still inaccessible following the flooding in the state’s east that turned roads into rivers, washed out bridges and swept away houses. Off-and-on rain plus poor mobile phone service are also complicating rescue efforts.
“This is one of the most devastating, deadly floods that we have seen in our history … And at a time that we’re trying to dig out, it’s raining,” Governor Andy Beshear told NBC’s Meet the Press.
“We’re going to work to go door-to-door, work to find, again, as many people as we can. We’re even going to work through the rain. But the weather is complicating it.”
The number of dead in the flooding, caused by torrential rain that began on Wednesday, is expected to rise even further.
“We’re going to be finding bodies for weeks, many of them swept hundreds of yards, maybe a quarter mile-plus from where they were lost,” Beshear said.