Days of torrential rain ahead in the Carolinas as Florence leaves at least 11 dead

Authorities on Saturday warned residents displaced by a killer hurricane that its devastation was far from over, as Florence broke rainfall records across the southeastern United States, bringing catastrophic flooding and at least nine deaths, reported news agency AFP.

Most of the fatalities occurred in North Carolina, where officials confirmed eight victims. However, US media reports said that the death toll reached 11. They included three who died "due to flash flooding and swift water on roadways," the Duplin County Sheriff's Office reported.

Florence made landfall Friday as a Category 1 hurricane but has since been downgraded to a tropical storm, even as it continued to wreak havoc along the East Coast, downing trees and power lines and forcing 20,000 people to flee to shelters.

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On Saturday some residents tried to return home, driving through flooded highways armed with chainsaws to clear fallen pine trees that covered the road.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper warned against such behaviour as roads became increasingly dangerous.

"All roads in the state right now are at risk of floods," he said. "As rivers keep rising and rain keeps falling, the flooding will spread. More and more inland counties are issuing mandatory evacuations to get people to safety quickly."

DEADLY PATH  
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on Saturday announced the death of a 61-year-old woman who died when her car hit a downed tree on a highway.

President Donald Trump tweeted late Saturday that "five deaths have been recorded thus far," and expressed sympathy to the victims' families.

The White House said Trump would visit hurricane-hit areas next week "once it is determined his travel will not disrupt any rescue or recovery efforts."

More than 800,000 customers in North Carolina were without power and 21,000 people were being housed in 157 shelters across the state.

TORNADO WARNINGS 
Hurricane Florence made landfall Friday in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, after stalking the coastline for days.

Tornadoes remain a threat, with the NHC saying that "a few tornadoes are possible in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina."

About 1.7 million people in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia are under voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders, and millions of others live in areas likely to be affected by the storm.