Floods wreak havoc in West Virginia, kilss 23

US: At least 23 people have died in flooding and more than 100 people rescued from swamped homes in West Virginia. The state was filled up to 10 inches of rain on Thursday, causing rivers and streams to overflow.

West Virginia state Governor, Earl Ray Tomblin during a news conference said, 

"The damage is widespread and devastating,"
"Our biggest challenge continues to be high waters."

Multiple rivers have risen to dangerous heights, including the Elk River, which reached 32 feet (9.7m), the highest since 1888, Tomblin said.
Government officials are focusing resources on rescuing those trapped or swept away by the flooding, he said, adding that some 66,000 residences are without power.

The governor declared state of emergency in 44 of 55 counties and deployed 200 members of the West Virginia National Guard to help with rescue efforts on Friday.

 

Spokeswoman for West Virgina Homeland Security and Emergency Management put the death toll at 23. She added that Greenbrier County in the southeast of the state was the hardest hit area with 15 deaths.

National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira said West Virginia received one-quarter of its annual rainfall in a single day.