The majority of fatalities after the passage of Hurricane Helene are from North Carolina, with 36, and then South Carolina, with 25 dead as of today
Hurricane Helene has left nearly 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 brings the death toll to 93, with North Carolina being the hardest hit state with 36 fatalities, followed by South Carolina, which has recorded 25 deaths, including two firefighters. Georgia, Florida, Virginia and Tennessee have also suffered significant loss of life.
In North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper has described Helene as “one of the worst storms in modern history” in the state.
In western North Carolina, especially in Asheville, the devastation is evident with homes destroyed and streets flooded with debris.
Torrential rains have triggered landslides in mountainous areas, blocking more than 280 state highways and hampering rescue efforts. As a result, authorities are resorting to airways to bring supplies and aid to those trapped.
The death toll could continue to rise, as the missing persons count is expected to be updated in the coming hours.
In fact, CBS has reported that the figure could be even higher, bringing the death toll to 105, with 30 fatalities 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 persons.
In addition, widespread power outages have left 2.4 million people without electricity in the five hardest-hit states. Living conditions in these areas are being exacerbated by the lack of access to basic services such as water and power.
The hurricane, which was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Friday, is no longer being monitored by weather authorities, but continues to leave heavy rains in some areas, particularly in the southern Appalachian mountain range.