Hurricane Helene has claimed at least 20 lives in the southeastern United States, hitting the region as a powerful Category 4 storm before weakening to a tropical depression by Friday afternoon.
Fatalities were reported across Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida, with Georgia’s governor confirming 11 deaths in his state. The massive storm left around 3 million people without power, destroyed homes, and flooded entire communities.
Authorities fear more victims could be trapped under debris from collapsed buildings, with many roads rendered impassable. The National Weather Service reported Helene made landfall on Florida’s west coast as a Category 4 hurricane but began to lose strength shortly afterward.
0The storm prompted warnings of “historic and catastrophic flooding,” with water levels reaching up to 5 meters in some areas. Mudslide threats emerged due to the intense rainfall, and many casualties occurred from falling trees or vehicle accidents. In Florida, a woman drowned in her home, according to CNN.
North Carolina authorities raised concerns about a potential dam break, urging nearby residents to evacuate. The storm’s path moved over the Appalachian Mountains, extending its impact to Tennessee and Virginia, after previously causing flooding and outages in Cuba as it approached the U.S.
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