Rivers still rising in flood-hit US

With over a dozen people already dead and rivers still rising in parts of the US, there are fears many communities could flood again.

The first day of spring brought much-needed sunshine to some flooded areas, but many swelling rivers were not expected to peak until the weekend in Arkansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, southern Indiana and Kentucky.

The worst flooding happened in smaller rivers across America’s midsection. Major channels such as the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio rivers saw only minor flooding.

Parts of Missouri got a foot of rain over a 36-hour period this week, causing widespread flash flooding and swelling many rivers. Five deaths have been confirmed in Missouri and hundreds of people were forced from their homes. Many families will return to find their property badly damaged or destroyed.

Levee breaches in south-east Missouri forced hundreds of people from their homes and left many major roadways impassable. The Coon Island levee near Poplar Bluff, Missouri, broke yesterday, and authorities were preparing to conduct water rescues if necessary.

President George Bush declared a major disaster in Missouri on Wednesday night and ordered federal agencies to assist state and local authorities in flooded areas.

The Black, Big and St Francis rivers in Missouri were also expected to flood significantly. Minor flooding was predicted on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

Searchers in Texas recovered a body yesterday in waist-deep water that matched the description of a teenager who was washed down a drainage pipe, but had not confirmed it was him. Two people were missing this morning in Arkansas after their vehicles were swept away by rushing water on Tuesday.

Government forecasters warned this morning that some flooding could continue in the coming days because of record rainfall and melting snow packs across much of the Midwest and Northeast.