Andy Bashir, Governor of the U.S. state of Kentucky, said floods that swept east of the state as a result of heavy rains have claimed the lives of at least 30 people, including children, while authorities work to provide food and shelter for thousands of displaced residents.

The state governor added at a press briefing that the death toll is expected to continue to rise. He indicated that the authorities were aware of the discovery of additional bodies, but could not confirm these deaths at this time. “We have learned about the discovery of other bodies, in addition to 30 confirmed ones,” he said.
He pointed out that “what is making life difficult for people in the area is the rain at the moment,” adding that “a potentially violent storm.”
The flood washed away several homes in the hardest-hit areas after days of heavy rainfall, which Bashir called some of the heaviest in the history of the US state. Rescuers sent boats through residential and commercial areas looking for victims.
Officials have warned that the death toll could continue to rise as more rain is expected to hamper rescue efforts. The National Weather Service predicts more rain and storms on Tuesday.
Bashir, who has declared a state of emergency over the flooding, said over the weekend that authorities “will find the bodies in the coming weeks” as rescuers moved to remote areas.
The floods are the second major disaster to hit Kentucky in seven months, following several hurricanes that killed nearly 80 people in the western part of the state in December.