At least 10 people have been killed and dozens missing after severe flooding in central Tennessee, police said Tuesday.
Chris Davis, chief of police in Humphreys County, Tennessee, said 10 people were killed and 31 were missing in severe flooding in the area that day, CNN reported Tuesday. Two young children were among the victims.
Authorities declared a flood emergency after heavy rains and thunderstorms continued to hit parts of central and western Tennessee late Tuesday. Since then, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has urged people to avoid the affected areas and told everyone in central Tennessee to avoid driving or crossing flooded roads and sidewalks.
Krissy Hurley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said Humphreys County, Tennessee, was badly hit, with more than 15 inches (38 cm) of rain falling in the area that morning alone, or 20 to 25 percent of the region’s total annual rainfall. Several cities are facing a “terrible disaster” and large numbers of people are still trapped in their homes.
Rescue efforts have been launched in Tennessee. Emergency services, the National Guard and other agencies have taken emergency measures to deal with the flooding, the National Guard has sent Black Hawk helicopters to the scene to assist in water rescue. In addition, information centres have been set up to help people find their missing relatives.
