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US storms: Missouri floods close Mississippi near St Louis | US storms: Missouri floods close Mississippi near St Louis |
(about 20 hours later) | |
A five-mile (8km) section of the Mississippi River near St Louis, Missouri, has been closed to vessels as rising water levels caused "hazardous conditions", the US Coast Guard said. | A five-mile (8km) section of the Mississippi River near St Louis, Missouri, has been closed to vessels as rising water levels caused "hazardous conditions", the US Coast Guard said. |
Storms and tornadoes have lashed the region in recent days, swelling rivers and causing flash flooding. | Storms and tornadoes have lashed the region in recent days, swelling rivers and causing flash flooding. |
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said 13 people in the state had died. | |
Another seven have died in Illinois, where there is a disaster proclamation in seven counties. | |
Mr Nixon said the National Guard had been called in to help local authorities. | |
Aerial footage showed water from the Mississippi River engulfing buildings in the evacuated town of West Alton, north of St Louis, on Tuesday. | Aerial footage showed water from the Mississippi River engulfing buildings in the evacuated town of West Alton, north of St Louis, on Tuesday. |
In the town of Union, about 50 miles (80km) west of St Louis, buildings were partly submerged by severe flooding from the Missouri, Meramec and Bourbeuse rivers. | In the town of Union, about 50 miles (80km) west of St Louis, buildings were partly submerged by severe flooding from the Missouri, Meramec and Bourbeuse rivers. |
Coast Guard spokesman Capt Martin Malloy said the high water levels and fast currents had led them to close the section of the Mississippi near St Louis - a busy route for commercial shipping. | Coast Guard spokesman Capt Martin Malloy said the high water levels and fast currents had led them to close the section of the Mississippi near St Louis - a busy route for commercial shipping. |
River levels are forecast to peak on Thursday and Mr Nixon warned that the situation could get worse before it gets better. | River levels are forecast to peak on Thursday and Mr Nixon warned that the situation could get worse before it gets better. |
He said the National Guard would provide security in evacuated areas and direct traffic away from closed roads. | He said the National Guard would provide security in evacuated areas and direct traffic away from closed roads. |
"These citizen soldiers will provide much-needed support to state and local first responders, many of whom have spent the last several days working around the clock responding to record rainfall and flooding," he said in a statement. | "These citizen soldiers will provide much-needed support to state and local first responders, many of whom have spent the last several days working around the clock responding to record rainfall and flooding," he said in a statement. |
Nr Nixon added that three new flood-related deaths had been discovered on Tuesday, raising the death toll in the state since the storms began over the weekend to 13. | Nr Nixon added that three new flood-related deaths had been discovered on Tuesday, raising the death toll in the state since the storms began over the weekend to 13. |
Many of the victims have been trapped in vehicles swept off flooded roads. | Many of the victims have been trapped in vehicles swept off flooded roads. |
South-west of St Louis, a section of Interstate 44 was closed by flooding near the town of Rolla while part of Interstate 70 was also closed in the neighbouring state of Illinois. | South-west of St Louis, a section of Interstate 44 was closed by flooding near the town of Rolla while part of Interstate 70 was also closed in the neighbouring state of Illinois. |
Many other smaller roads were also closed across the two states, where flood warnings were in effect. | Many other smaller roads were also closed across the two states, where flood warnings were in effect. |
Floods also inundated a wastewater treatment plant south of St Louis on Monday, causing sewage to flow directly into rivers and streams. | Floods also inundated a wastewater treatment plant south of St Louis on Monday, causing sewage to flow directly into rivers and streams. |
The flooding in Missouri and southern Illinois began over the weekend after as much as 10ins (25cm) of rain fell in some areas in a matter of hours. | The flooding in Missouri and southern Illinois began over the weekend after as much as 10ins (25cm) of rain fell in some areas in a matter of hours. |
It came after severe storms over the Christmas holiday claimed at least 49 lives across southern and western states of the US. | It came after severe storms over the Christmas holiday claimed at least 49 lives across southern and western states of the US. |
Parts of eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and Illinois are still subject to flood warnings. | Parts of eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and Illinois are still subject to flood warnings. |
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