7 dead in heavy rain, flooding in U.S. Indiana

Seven people have died after heavy rain and flooding hit the U.S. state of Indiana over the past several days, the State Emergency Operations Center confirmed Sunday.

In hard-hit Hamilton County, the White River reached its highest level ever on Saturday, breaking a record set in 1913, local media reported on Sunday, quoting county officials.

At least 215 properties, including homes and businesses in the Hamilton County town of Carmel, were affected by the flooding, and 40 residents were forced to evacuate.

In the nearby city of Noblesville, 170 residents were evacuated over the past 72 hours, and about 550 residential units were affected by the historic flooding.

Hamilton County remained under a flood watch on Sunday.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett told a news conference on Saturday that the city was facing a flooding event unseen in over 30 years.

At least 150,000 customers were without power in the state at one point on Saturday as a result of the severe weather, Indiana Department of Homeland Security Executive Director Jonathan Whitham said during a briefing on Saturday.

Indiana Governor Mike Braun declared a state of emergency on Thursday. He spoke to President Donald Trump about "the severe storms and historic flooding impacting Indiana," and Trump has agreed to provide federal assistance.

Severe weather has hit the U.S. Midwest over the past week, with flood watches remaining in effect across parts of Illinois, Indiana and West Virginia on Sunday and additional rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms expected over the next 24 hours.

xinhua