The death toll will "rise significantly," added Beshear. The governor had previously spoken to the news channel CNN of a possible doubling of the number of victims. It was "shocking" and that there would "also be children" among the victims, he said. By declaring a disaster, the US federal government can now assist the state of Kentucky in post-flood relief and reconstruction.
The state in the eastern United States had been hit by heavy rains. In some areas, around 20 centimeters of rain fell within 24 hours. Streets turned into rivers, numerous houses were submerged by the spongy brown waters. The north branch of the Kentucky River reached a water level of more than six meters near the town of Whitesburg. The previous record was around 4.5 meters.
Some residents' homes "were washed away while they slept," Governor Beshear said. A local resident who was trapped in her RV by the floods told local newspaper the Lexington Herald-Leader that the water swept over her "like a wave out of the ocean."
According to the newspaper, two children were among the dead who clung to a tree with their family and stayed there for eight hours to escape the water. They were finally washed away by a wave along with two other siblings. The siblings would therefore continue to be missed, the parents were later rescued.
Hundreds of people were rescued by boats and by the National Guard in around 50 rescue missions by helicopter. Flooding is common in eastern Kentucky, Beshear said. "But we've never seen anything like it." Many roads have been washed away, the water levels are so high and the current so strong that the rescue workers are currently unable to reach everyone.
On Friday, thousands of people in the flooded area were without electricity and running water. Emergency shelters have been set up in gymnasiums, churches and parks. The US weather agency National Weather Service warned of further heavy rains during the course of Friday.
In the USA, but also in many other countries, more extreme weather phenomena are currently being observed. According to experts, their more frequent occurrence is a consequence of man-made climate change.
