By Le Figaro with AFP
Posted 52 minutes ago
People paddle across a bridge in Montpelier, Vermont, U.S. July 11, 2023. BRIAN SNYDER/ Portal
IN PICTURES, IN PICTURES – More than a hundred people were rescued in these floods caused by torrential rains.
Emergency services are conducting emergency evacuations of residents this Tuesday, July 12, in Vermont, a northeastern U.S. state hit by “historic and catastrophic” flooding after torrential rains.
According to US media images, rescue workers evacuated residents with inflatable boats and kayaks, including in the state capital Montpelier, where the completely flooded city center was closed until noon on Tuesday. According to the authorities, more than 100 people were rescued.
Emergency services work after floods in Montpelier, Vermont, U.S. July 11, 2023. NEAL P. GOSWAMI/ Portal
“Catastrophic”
“The devastation and flooding we are witnessing is historic and catastrophic,” Gov. Phil Scott said at a news conference. He said the flooding “exceeded the magnitude of Tropical Storm Irene,” which killed six people in the state in 2011. US President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency for Vermont, which allowed federal aid to be deployed.
A man walks on a flooded street, Vermont, U.S. July 11, 2023. BRIAN SNYDER/ Portal
“The good news is that the rain has stopped in some areas, but that doesn’t mean the water will recede immediately,” the governor continued. “We expect more rains later in the week that have nowhere to go in the oversaturated soils,” he said. In a Facebook post, the city of Montpelier warned that a dam burst was imminent and water would flow into the North Branch River, with fears of “significantly worsening the damage”.
A home damaged by flooding in Barre, Vermont, U.S. July 11, 2023. BRIAN SNYDER/ Portal
According to the National Weather Service, torrential rain fell in the northeastern United States between Sunday and Monday that could reach 8 inches in some places, including in the New York area, where flooding killed a woman trying to to flee her house. New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul called on people to “come together to combat the devastating effects of climate change, which are also unprecedented phenomena that continue to hit us. Once again.”
A flooded street on July 10, 2023 in Chester, Vermont. SCOTT EISEN / AFP