More heavy rainfall swamps South Carolina

Another day of heavy rain drenched an already inundated South Carolina as rescue teams went door-to-door to check on people in swamped neighbourhoods and authorities surveyed a statewide road system torn apart by historic flooding.

At least nine weather- related deaths in two states were blamed on the vast rainstorm, the latest coming when a sedan drove around a barricade and stalled in rushing waters.

The driver drowned, but a female passenger managed to climb on top of it and was rescued by a firefighter who waded into the water.