Three year old and four others killed after flash flooding in West Virginia
Five people, including a three-year-old child, have died and three others are missing after severe flash flooding hit West Virginia.
Around 2.5 to 4 inches of rain fell in half an hour on Saturday night in the city of Wheeling, which is around 200 miles north east of the capital city of Charleston, while people climbed trees to escape.
Officials have said that one of the victims is a three-year old child but no further details have been given about the others, according to the New York Times.
A block of flats in West Virginia partially collapsed and residents were evacuated after the severe flooding, CBS News said. More Trending
Lou Vargo, Ohio County's emergency management director, said during a news conference yesterday: 'We almost immediately started getting 911 calls for rescue of people being trapped.
'During this time, we had major infrastructure damage to roads, bridges, and highways where we couldn't respond to a lot of incidents. So we were delayed in getting there because there was just so much damage.
'It happened so quickly and so fast… I've been doing this for 35 years. I've seen major floods here in the city and the county. I've never seen anything like this.'
A resident in Fairmont, whose pet dog was killed in the flooding, posted on GoFundMe: 'In a matter of hours, [my mom] lost her pet, Darla, clothes, furniture, personal belongings, and even her vehicle. The place she called home is now unrecognisable.'
Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.
MORE: Americans mock underwhelming Flag Day parade with soldiers 'marching out of step'
MORE: 'I'm a conservative dad who voted for Trump – I'd do anything for my trans child'
MORE: Florida sheriff warns rioters 'we will kill you' as protests spread across US
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
17 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Spain wildfire death toll rises to 4 & six horrifically burned as fires enter NINTH day and 2k soldiers battle inferno
Vast blazes continue to devastate the country FIRES OF HELL Spain wildfire death toll rises to 4 & six horrifically burned as fires enter NINTH day and 2k soldiers battle inferno FOUR people have died in Spain as ferocious wildfires continue to burn into their ninth day. More than 40 fires are still active, and thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes. 6 Members of Spanish Military Emergencies Unit try to control the blaze Credit: Getty 6 A forest brigadier uses a hose to extinguish flames during a wildfire in Ribadavia Credit: Getty 6 A cloud forms as smoke rises from the wildfires Credit: Reuters Spain is having to call in international reinforcements as the blazes continue to devastate the country. The disastrous infernos have taken a devastating human toll. Four people have sadly died in the blazes, including one firefighter - with more seriously injured. Three of six people hospitalised in Leon and Zamora remain in critical condition. The same number are in serious condition, according to the Regional Government of Castilla y Leon. A 56-year-old woman has burns to 48% of her body, a 36-year-old man has 50% and a 64-year-old man has 35%. The inferno continues to relentlessly tear through the northwest and west of Spain. Ten towns near the Picos de Europa have been evacuated due to the direct threat of the flames. The number of hectares razed across Spain now exceeds 160,000 and threats to the rich natural heritage continue. In Ourense alone, wildfires have devastated 58,500 hectares - which makes it the worst forest disaster in the province so far this summer. Several fires remain out of control, including those in Chandrexa de Queixa and Vilariño de Conxo. In Castilla y León, blazes have been reported in Zamora, León, Salamanca and Ávila - totalling to nearly 28 active fires. Defence Minister Margarita Robles said the Military Emergency Unit has been fully deployed - with thousands battling the flames. But she added they have "not seen anything like it in its 20 years of existence". The Spanish government has accepted support from Germany, Slovakia and the Netherlands. Reinforcement have also been sent by France and Italy through the European Civil Protection Mechanism. 6 Members of the Trasmiras Airborne Brigade II work for hours to prevent flames from reaching houses Credit: Getty 6 Forest brigadiers work to control a wildfire Credit: Getty 6 The Spanish government has accepted support from Germany, Slovakia and the Netherlands Credit: Getty More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Hurricane Erin tracker: Maps show mega 160mph storm heading straight for tourist hotspot
Hurricane Erin is barrelling across the Atlantic Ocean, with speeds of up to 160mph, and new maps from forecasters show exactly where the monster storm could hit next Maps show where Hurricane Erin is set to strike as forecasters warn the monster storm could strengthen again in the coming days. Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, has already packed a terrifying punch, exploding into a Category 5 beast on Saturday before weakening slightly to a still-dangerous Category 3 on Sunday. The storm is currently swirling north of Puerto Rico with sustained winds of 125mph, but experts at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) say it is 'likely to strengthen again'. It comes after an exciting heatwave forecast with maps revealing the exact date a 39C heat plume will scorch the UK. READ MORE: Dog owner 'traumatised' as exhausted pet dies when walker dumps it in 27C heat Tracking maps show Erin steering a path just north of the Caribbean islands and heading west-northwest at around 13mph. The Bahamas, Bermuda and the Outer Banks of North Carolina are all being urged to keep a close watch, with the system expected to remain a major hurricane through midweek. Tropical storm warnings are already in place for the Turks and Caicos Islands and parts of the southeastern Bahamas, where heavy rains and fierce winds are lashing communities. The Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are facing downpours of up to 8 inches in isolated spots, raising fears of flooding. Dangerous swells are forecast to batter coastlines from Hispaniola to the Turks and Caicos in the coming days. Although the hurricane is not currently expected to make a direct hit on the US East Coast, its massive size, having doubled in recent days, and could still whip up rip currents, gusty winds and flooding tides as far north as the Carolinas, CBS News reports. Meteorologist Richard Pasch from the NHC warned: 'You're dealing with a major hurricane. The intensity is fluctuating. It's a dangerous hurricane in any event.' Experts say Erin has been undergoing an 'eyewall replacement cycle', when a storm becomes so powerful it builds a new, larger eye. That can cause a temporary dip in strength, but it often means the hurricane comes back even more intense. Forecast 'spaghetti maps' show Erin tracking northward, skirting the Caribbean islands and staying offshore of the mainland U.S. A strong high-pressure system over the Atlantic and an incoming cold front should steer it away from the Eastern Seaboard, according to CBS meteorologists. The storm formed last Monday near Africa's Cabo Verde islands and quickly became the fifth named storm of the season. With hurricane season now nearing its September peak, U.S. weather chiefs are warning of an above-normal year, with as many as 18 named storms expected. Officials in the region are urging residents not to be complacent. Beaches are already closed in parts of the Virgin Islands, ferry services are being suspended, and emergency shelters have been readied. Even if Erin does not make landfall, forecasters say the knock-on effects could be life-threatening, with treacherous seas, flash floods and landslides possible. The sheer size of the storm means millions could feel its impact, even hundreds of miles from the hurricane's centre. For now, all eyes are on Erin's projected path and whether the storm powers back up to the catastrophic Category 5 strength seen on Saturday.
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Former mayor dies trying to save town from wildfires sweeping southern Europe
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A former mayor in Portugal has died while battling wildfires that continue to sweep across southern Europe, also affecting Spain and Greece. Officials said Carlos Damaso, the former mayor of Vila Franca do Deão in northeast Portugal, was reported missing while helping fight a blaze. His body was found on Friday. Nearly 4,000 firefighters are now deployed across the country, and the government in Lisbon has joined Spain in requesting assistance from the European Union's civil protection mechanism. However, authorities in Portugal have warned they lack enough resources, while strong winds were causing blazes to spread across the country faster than firefighters could contain them. Portugal's president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, offered 'heartfelt condolences' to former mayor Damaso, and cut short a holiday to join emergency meetings this weekend. Wildfires have burned across much of Europe in the last week. In Spain, blazes have burned 610 square miles so far this year – an area roughly the size of London. There were 14 major fires burning in the country this weekend, with firefighters deployed on a public holiday on Friday as persistent heat and dry conditions made the spread ever more likely. Spain's national weather agency Aemet said temperatures had risen above 44C in several places on Saturday, warning of a very high risk of fires across 'practically the entire country'. France, Bulgaria, Albania and Montenegro have also suffered devastating fires so far amid heatwaves in August. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video And in Greece, the popular tourist island of Chios saw villages evacuated after a wildfire burned for the fourth day despite water-dropping planes and helicopters trying to halt it. More Trending While wildfires happen frequently across Europe over the summer, meteorologists say extreme weather which makes them more likely is becoming more frequent as a result of climate change. Noticed a fuzzy looking moon recently?Smoke from wildfires in Iberia and Canada have given widely hazy skies across Europe and may result in some vivid sunsets and sunrises. — Met Office (@metoffice) August 15, 2025 According to EU data, about 6,290 square km (2,429 square miles) of land has burnt across the bloc since the beginning of the year. And the Met Office said that even the UK is currently being affected as smoke carried over from the fires in Europe creates hazy conditions in parts of the country. The weather agency said the conditions will lead to brighter sunsets, combining with Saharan dust that has blown towards the country this weekend. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: We swerved a beach honeymoon for a European city break — we're itching to go back MORE: Venetians are up in arms after tourists expose 'secret' €2 gondola rides MORE: I've been going to the Algarve for years – try day trips for dodging tourists
