The death toll in Asheville, North Carolina, following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, has surged to 35, with survivors recounting tragic scenes of bodies trapped in trees and under debris. This sharp increase in fatalities is part of a larger death toll of 120 nationwide, as the storm has wreaked havoc across the Southeastern U.S. since its landfall last Thursday.
In the Asheville area, torrential rains triggered severe flooding and mudslides, obliterating entire communities and leaving roads inaccessible for rescue teams. Residents of Black Mountain, a small village near Asheville, described the destruction, with homes submerged and swept away by floodwaters. Alyssa Hudson, a local, reported seeing her house completely destroyed, with debris found miles away.
The storm initially struck Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 2 hurricane, claiming 13 lives, before moving northeast. It continued to cause devastation in Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas, where significant flooding and a tornado in Rocky Mount injured several people.
Rescue efforts in North Carolina have been particularly challenging, with as many as 600 people still unaccounted for. The storm has left widespread destruction, including collapsed buildings, downed power lines, and impassable roads. Residents in some areas have been cut off from basic services like electricity and clean water, forcing them to rely on buckets of creek water to flush toilets.
As the recovery process begins, officials estimate the total damage from Hurricane Helene to be around $34 billion. For many survivors, like Hudson, the losses are deeply personal, with homes, businesses, and cherished belongings washed away.