At least 20 people have died after Hurricane Helene slammed into the South Eastern United States as a dangerous category four storm, before later weakening to a tropical depression by the afternoon of Friday, September 27, 2024.
The deaths were reported in United States media across the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.
The governor of Georgia said at least 11 people had died in his state.
Around three million people were without power across those states and beyond, with houses destroyed and entire communities flooded.
There were fears that many people could still be trapped under collapsed and damaged buildings.
Many roads across the region were not passable.
The National Weather Service said Helene made landfall on the west coast of Florida as a Category Four Hurricane – the second highest category – but then began losing steam.
The service had warned of “historic and catastrophic flooding,” and in some places on Friday, September 27, 2024, the water was about five metres high. There were also threats of mudslides due to the extreme rain.
Many victims were killed or injured by falling trees, while others died in their cars. In Florida, a woman drowned in her home, CNN reported.
In North Carolina, authorities warned that a dam could break and urged nearby residents to move to safety.
After pummelling the South East, it began moving over the Appalachian mountains and affecting states like Tennessee and Virginia.
Helene had already caused flooding and power outages in Cuba as it barrelled toward the US.
