- Trump fills out cabinet as divisive picks shock Washington
- Son hits 50th South Korea goal in win, Australia-Saudi stalemate
- BHP, Vale cleared by Brazil court over 2015 dam disaster
- Satirical US outlet The Onion buys conspiracy site Infowars
- Scotland must emulate Croatia's 'conveyor belt of talent': Clarke
- Legal migration to OECD reaches new record in 2023
- Robinson edges Benazzi to succeed Beaumont as head of World Rugby
- India's capital shuts all primary schools due to smog
- Central bank independence 'fundamental' for good policy: Fed official
- Fritz beats De Minaur to eye ATP Finals last four, Sinner through
- Doris expecting a 'proper test' against Argentina
- Russia's exiled opposition hopes for rebirth with Berlin rally
- EU fines Meta $840 million for 'abusive' Facebook ad practices
- Springboks boss Erasmus expects England to 'play for Borthwick'
- Before Leicester, Ranieri's brush with glory with his beloved Roma
- Stock markets rise as traders weigh future Fed cuts
- Australian Robinson edges Benazzi to head World Rugby
- US director Haynes to lead Berlinale 2025 jury
- Iran tells UN nuclear chief willing to resolve 'ambiguities'
- Coach owner Tapestry calls off Capri bid on regulatory blocks
- UK government announces ban on new coal mines
- US ski star Lindsey Vonn, 40, to attempt competitive return
- Ranieri comes out of retirement to lead hometown club Roma
- England recall Steward and Van Poortvliet for South Africa Test
- EU fines Meta 798 mn euros for Facebook ad antitrust breach
- Australian Brett Robinson graduates to rugby's top post
- Brazil looking for motive after attempted Supreme Court bombing
- Hotels on Booking.com can offer better rates elsewhere: EU
- EU deforestation ban in chaos as parliament loosens rules
- Springboks make 12 changes to team for England clash
- All Blacks fly-half Barrett returns from concussion against France
- UEFA launches investigation into Premier League referee Coote
- Monaco Formula One GP extended until 2031
- Climate finance: who is being asked to pay what at COP29?
- 'Terrible' AI has given tech an existential headache: activist
- COP29 host tries to calm waters after diplomatic turmoil
- Late drama as Saudis hold Australia in World Cup qualifier
- Stock markets diverge as traders weigh future Fed cuts
- Israel warfare methods 'consistent with genocide': UN committee
- 'In-form leader' Fickou starts for France against New Zealand
- Iran activist kills himself after demanding release of prisoners
- Russia shuts Moscow's famed gulag museum
- London mayor says Trump attacks due to his ethnicity and religion
- Japan expect tough Indonesia test with World Cup spot in reach
- Uganda TikToker convicted for insulting president
- Thousands flee as Typhoon Usagi hits north Philippines
- Burberry launches turnaround plan as posts loss
- Fickou starts for France against New Zealand
- Spain flood epicentre survives fresh rain alert
- Man with explosives dies in blast at Brazil's Supreme Court
RBGPF | -1.59% | 59.25 | $ | |
SCS | -0.19% | 13.344 | $ | |
BTI | 0.51% | 35.6 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.1% | 24.755 | $ | |
NGG | 0.7% | 62.56 | $ | |
BCC | -1.14% | 140.94 | $ | |
GSK | 0.32% | 35.221 | $ | |
RIO | -0.34% | 60.415 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.06% | 24.625 | $ | |
RYCEF | -2.16% | 6.96 | $ | |
RELX | 0.42% | 46.315 | $ | |
AZN | 0.9% | 65.885 | $ | |
BCE | 0.42% | 27.325 | $ | |
JRI | 0.08% | 13.25 | $ | |
VOD | 0.34% | 8.78 | $ | |
BP | 1.09% | 28.885 | $ |
Eight dead in 'devastating' Kentucky flooding
Flash flooding caused by torrential rains has killed at least eight people in eastern Kentucky and left some residents stranded on rooftops and in trees, the governor of the south-central US state said Thursday.
The world has been hit by extreme weather events in recent months, incidents that scientists say are an unmistakable sign of climate change.
"This is going to be the worst flooding in recent memory -- devastating and deadly," Governor Andy Beshear told local NBC affiliate WLEX in an interview.
"We're going to end up with double-digit deaths. Right now, I believe we can confirm at least eight, but that number is increasing, it seems, by the hour."
The victims include an 81-year-old woman in Perry County.
Beshear said that responders have rescued "between 20 and 30" people by air. Earlier, he described people standing on rooftops or climbing up trees to escape the floodwaters while waiting for rescue.
Many roads resembled rivers, mangled cars littered the landscape and muddy brown floodwaters lapped against the rooftops of low-lying houses in the state's Appalachian region.
Some areas reported receiving more than eight inches (20 centimeters) of rain in a 24-hour period.
The North Fork of the Kentucky River at Whitesburg, usually one to two feet deep at this time of year, rose to a staggering 20 feet, well above its previous record of 14.7 feet.
The governor said a state of emergency had been declared in half a dozen counties, and four National Guard helicopters have been deployed to help with rescue efforts.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife had deployed Zodiac boats to carry out water rescues.
"There's a lot of people out there who need help," Beshear told reporters earlier in the day. "And we're doing the very best we can to reach each and every one of them.
"The situation right now is tough," he added.
"Hundreds will lose their homes, and this is going to be yet another event that it's going to take not months, but likely years for many families to rebuild and recover from," he said.
Beshear said around 25,000 homes were without power statewide, and many were without water.
The National Weather Service said the area was still at risk of flash flooding and warned more heavy rain was expected.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden had been briefed about the flooding.
Jean-Pierre said Deanne Criswell, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, would travel to Kentucky on Friday and report back to the president.
K.Thomson--BTB