Disaster: Hurricane Helene killed at least 91 people in the United States

The human toll from Hurricane Helene, which wreaked devastation in part of the eastern and southeastern United States starting Thursday, increased to at least 93 dead on Sunday, according to authorities, who are continuing searching for victims.

In North Carolina, the most affected state, the death toll now stands at 37 – compared to ten previously -, including 30 in Buncombe County alone. At least 25 people also died in South Carolina, 17 in Georgia, 11 in Florida and one in Virginia, according to a report compiled by AFP from statements by local authorities.

Helene made landfall in northwest Florida on Thursday evening as a Category 4 hurricane on a scale of 5, packing winds measured at 225 km/h. The hurricane then progressed northwards, losing intensity, while leaving a landscape of desolation in its wake.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by Hurricane Helene,” US President Joe Biden said on Saturday, stressing that “the road to recovery will be long.” On Sunday, the White House announced that the head of state would visit the affected areas in the coming days.

The Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, is due to travel to Valdosta, a Georgia city affected by the hurricane, on Monday.

The material toll is also very heavy. “Infrastructure suffered significant damage to water networks, communications, roads, transport routes and several houses were destroyed,” Deanne Criswell of the Federal Situations Agency summarized Sunday on CBS. emergency (AFU), specifying that the search for victims continues.

In North Carolina, certain areas remain inaccessible and must be served by helicopter, said Governor Roy Cooper. Four national routes also remain cut between North Carolina and Tennessee due to damage to “numerous” bridges, said Kristin White of the Department of Transportation.

Nearly 2.5 million homes are still without electricity, according to the poweroutage.us website, and thousands of people are being supported by the Red Cross, according to this organization.

As the hurricane approached, which has since been downgraded, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee declared federal states of emergency and more than 800 personnel from the Federal Disaster Management Agency were deployed.

A flood warning remains in effect for parts of western North Carolina due to the risk of dam failure, according to the director of the National Weather Agency NWS, Ken Graham.

Rescue teams are still working to restore power and deal with the consequences of the massive floods which destroyed homes, roads and businesses. But their efforts are hampered by rugged terrain and blocked access routes.

On Cedar Key, an island of 700 inhabitants on the west coast of Florida, the roofs of houses were torn off and the walls gutted. “It breaks my heart to see this,” Gabe Doty, a municipal employee, told AFP. “Many houses have disappeared, the market has disappeared. The post office has disappeared. “It’s a real tragedy and it will be difficult to rebuild.”

In South Carolina, two firefighters died. Large areas were destroyed by landslides and intense flooding, as far away as Asheville, North Carolina. “This is one of the worst storms in modern history for parts of western North Carolina,” Gov. Roy Cooper said at a news conference Friday evening.