Hurricane Helene Devastates Southeastern US: 33 Dead as Floods and Mudslides Strike

Tropical Depression Helene has caused life-threatening flooding across the Southeastern US, resulting in at least 33 fatalities. The storm, which hit Florida’s Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, brought winds of 140 mph before weakening to a tropical depression with winds of 35 mph.

As Helene moved through Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, officials issued evacuations due to fears of dam failures in Tennessee and North Carolina. More than 4 million homes and businesses lost power, and emergency responders conducted thousands of water rescues, including over 50 individuals trapped on a hospital roof in Unicoi County, Tennessee.

Floodwaters prevented ambulances from evacuating patients, and landslides closed major highways in North Carolina. Damage reports from Florida revealed overturned boats and submerged vehicles, with many roads rendered impassable. Emergency personnel in Pinellas County completed over 78 water rescues, and at least five fatalities were confirmed in the county alone.

State officials urged residents to heed evacuation orders, describing the storm surge as “unsurvivable.” Helene's size and scope made it one of the most significant storms to impact the region, prompting concerns of further casualties as recovery efforts continue.