US: About 400 rescued by helicopter from Kentucky floods

The chief of the US National Guard Bureau said about 400 people had been rescued by National Guard helicopter from floods in Kentucky.

General Daniel Hokanson estimated that the guard had rescued close to 20 by boat from hard-to-access areas.

Damage to critical infrastructure and the arrival of more heavy rains hampered efforts Sunday to help Kentucky residents hit by recent massive flooding.

As residents in Appalachia tried to slowly piece their lives back together, flash flood warnings were issued for at least eight eastern Kentucky counties.

The National Weather Service said radar indicated up to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters) of rain fell Sunday in some areas, with more rain possible.

The Kentucky governor said the death toll climbed to 28 on Sunday from last week's storms - a number expected to rise significantly.

As many as 37 people were unaccounted for, according to a daily briefing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

A dozen shelters were open for flood victims in Kentucky with 388 occupants on Sunday.

At a news conference in Knott County, the Kentucky governor praised the fast arrival of FEMA trailers but noted the numerous challenges.

Parts of eastern Kentucky received between 8 and 10 1/2 inches (20-27 centimeters) over 48 hours.

About 13,000 utility customers in Kentucky remained without power Sunday, poweroutage.us reported.

US President Joe Biden declared a federal disaster to direct relief money to more than a dozen Kentucky counties.

Last week's flooding extended to West Virginia, where Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency for six southern counties, and to Virginia, where Gov. Glenn Youngkin also made an emergency declaration that enabled officials to mobilise resources across the flooded southwest portion of the state.