Washington, United States (AFP) – US President Joe Biden on Wednesday ordered deployment of up to 1,000 troops to flood-ravaged North Carolina to boost emergency response efforts including the “fight to save lives” after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of southeastern states.

“At my direction, the secretary of defense has just approved the deployment of up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to reinforce the North Carolina National Guard,” Biden said in a White House statement.

More than 155 people have died, hundreds more remain unaccounted for, and communities across multiple states have been devastated by flooding.

mlm/bgs

© Agence France-Presse

Featured image credit: kjpargeter | Freepik

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