Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / AMERICAS
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 16:14 GMT 17:14 UK

US Midwest suffers deadly floods

Homes perch on the edge of a bank washed away by floods in Minnesota The US Midwest is counting the cost of flooding which has killed 22 people and damaged thousands of homes.

The floods came after the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin and a second storm dumped heavy rains over several days.

Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio and Missouri are among the worst affected, with the damage expected to mount to tens of millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, powerful Hurricane Dean has been pounding Mexico and the Caribbean but is not forecast to hit Texas hard.

Some 22 people have died as a result of the flooding in the US Midwest, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Among them were six killed in Minnesota and another six in Oklahoma, according to local media reports.

Emergency declared

US television networks showed footage of dramatic rescues as people were lifted by helicopter from the roofs of flooded homes and vehicles.

A damaged rail bridge in Minnesota Firefighters used boats to rescue families from their homes in Ohio after nearly nine inches of rain fell, AP reports.

Many schools in the area cancelled the first day of classes. Roads and bridges have been damaged, as well as homes and crops.

Flood warnings remain in place in Oklahoma, where the state governor has declared a state of emergency in 24 counties. A state of emergency has also been declared in a handful of counties in Wisconsin.

Forecasters have warned strong winds and heavy rain could persist in some areas until the end of the week.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
In pictures: Deadly US floods (23 Aug 07 |  In Pictures )
Hurricane blows over Mexican Gulf (22 Aug 07 |  Americas )
US Midwest heatwave kills dozens (20 Aug 07 |  Americas )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
US National Hurricane Center
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©