Hurricane Helene Claims Over 200 Lives in the United States

At least 200 people have been killed due to Hurricane Helene, which swept through several southeastern U.S. states.

According to official U.S. sources on Thursday, the hurricane caused widespread destruction, particularly in North Carolina, where more than half of the victims perished.

A count by Agence France-Presse (AFP), based on official figures, showed that 201 people were killed in the states of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia, making Helene the second deadliest hurricane to strike the U.S. mainland in more than half a century, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

In addition to the fatalities, up to 600 people are still missing across several states as a result of the hurricane, which made landfall on Friday.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper stated: “We know that the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene is beyond description.”