United States: “catastrophic” floods kill many in Tennessee

Published on : 08/23/2021 – 00:25

“Catastrophic” floods in Tennessee have left at least 16 people dead, authorities in this southern American state reported on Sunday (August 22), and dozens of people remained wanted.

Tennessee was hit on Saturday by rains described as “historic” by local weather services, resulting in the deadly flooding.

“The Tennessee Department of Health was able to confirm 16 casualties related to weather events in Humphreys County,” the state Emergency Management Agency said, warning that they were a temporary assessment that could change.

“Between 22 and 43 centimeters of rain fell in this area of ​​central Tennessee during a period of 6 hours Saturday morning,” and bad weather continued into the night, the agency added, calling the flooding “catastrophic.”

Dozens of missing

Three other counties were also affected. Clean-up operations are underway, and “many bridges and roads in the affected area remain closed,” the statement said. The governor of Tennessee visited the site on Sunday afternoon, the agency said.

Dozens of people remain wanted, according to local newspaper The Tennessean, which reported a death toll of 21.

“It was almost as fast as a tornado. Someone described it as a tidal wave,” the mayor of the town of Waverly, located in Humphreys County, told local television station WKRN. . Images showed overturned cars and mud-strewn streets.

At a press conference on Sunday, US President Joe Biden expressed “his deep condolences” and indicated that the government stood “ready to offer assistance”.

With AFP