A killer storm that left up to 13 people dead weakened to a tropical depression on Sunday, but US authorities warned the devastation it caused — including catastrophic flooding — is far from over.
Most of the fatalities from Florence, which made landfall Friday as a Category 1 hurricane, have occurred in North Carolina, where officials confirmed 14 victims. They included three who died “due to flash flooding and swift water on roadways,” the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office reported. A woman and her baby were among the first casualties when a tree fell on their house, contributing to a death toll that US media said had reached 13-10 in North Carolina and three in South Carolina, according to CNN.
The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) downgraded Florence to a tropical depression on Sunday morning, adding that “flash flooding and major river flooding will continue over a significant portion of the Carolinas.” As of 5.00 am (local time) on Sunday, maximum sustained winds had weakened to near 56 kms per hour, the NHC said.
On Saturday, some residents tried to return home, driving through flooded highways and armed with chainsaws to clear fallen pine trees that covered the road. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper warned against such behaviour as roads became increasingly dangerous.
“All roads in the state right now are at risk of floods,” he said. Hurricane Florence made landfall Friday in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, after stalking the coastline for days. Tornadoes remain a threat, with the NHC saying that “a few tornadoes remain possible across North Carolina and eastern South Carolina.”