At least 21 dead in flooding in US state of Tennessee

Flood damaged areas are shown from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flown by the Tennessee National Guard August 22, 2021 in Waverly, Tennessee.

Devastating floods after record rainfall in the southern US state of Tennessee have left at least 21 people dead and at least 20 more missing, local officials said Sunday in what they warned was a preliminary toll. Tennessee was hit Saturday by what meteorologists called historic storms and flooding, dumping as much as 17 inches (38 centimeters) of rain. Rural roads, state highways, bridges and hundreds of homes were washed out and widespread power outages affected thousands of people. In Humpreys County, about 90 minutes from country music hub Nashville, the downpour on Saturday broke a 24-hour rainfall record for Tennessee, the National Weather Service said.