Deadly Helene floods spread to more US states

In North Carolina the mountain city of Asheville was largely cut off by flooding on Saturday, the BBC's US partner CBS News reported.

More than 400 roads remain closed in the state, where 10 people have died. Supplies are being airlifted to residents, state Governor Roy Cooper said.

Officials have continued daring rescues with boats, helicopters and large vehicles to help those stranded in floodwaters - including about 50 workers and patients who crowded on the roof of a flooded Tennessee hospital.

Many petrol stations are closed in North Carolina with long queues of cars at those still open. Power cuts have hit at least three million customers across five states.

The storm began as a hurricane - the most powerful on record to hit Florida's Big Bend, and moved north into Georgia and the Carolinas after making landfall overnight on Thursday.

Although Helene has weakened significantly, forecasters warn that high winds, flooding and the threat of tornadoes could continue.

The damage is estimated at between $95bn and $110bn (£71bn-£82bn). Governor Cooper called it "one of the worst storms in modern history" to hit North Carolina, BBC reported.

Asheville, home to about 94,000 people and a popular tourism and arts hub, was swamped and eerily quiet on Saturday, CBS reported