At least 25 people, including four children, perished when severe rains flooded Appalachian villages, according to the governor of Kentucky.

Governor Andy Beshear stated on Saturday that the figure is likely to grow dramatically and that it could take weeks to locate all of the victims of the record-breaking flash floods.

Beshear told Fox News: "This is a continuing natural disaster." "We are still in the mode of search and rescue. The rain has thankfully stopped. However, there will be more rain beginning Sunday afternoon."

Rescue personnel continues to battle to access hard-hit regions, some of which are among the poorest in the U.S. The governor stated that crews had performed more than 1,200 rescues using helicopters and boats.

Beshear, who flew over portions of the flood-ravaged region on Friday, described it as "unprecedented devastation."

Beshear stated, "We are committed to a comprehensive rebuilding effort to get these people back on their feet." "However, for the time being, we're only praying that we don't lose anyone else."

In 48 hours, 20 to 27cm (eight to 10.5 inches) of precipitation fell in Kentucky. The weather provided a reprieve on Saturday, but additional rainfall was forecast for Sunday.

As a cold front moves south, the region will stay predominantly dry today. The dry weather is likely to expire Sunday afternoon as a boundary returns to the area from the north, according to a tweet from the National Weather Service office in Jackson, Kentucky.

Phillip Michael Caudill worked on Saturday to clear rubble and rescue all he could from the home he shared with his wife and three children in the little village of Wayland. The flood waters had receded from the house, leaving behind a mess and doubts about what he and his family would do next.

The Associated Press was told by Caudill, who is currently lodging with his family in a free room at Jenny Wiley State Park, that they are hoping for assistance.

Caudill, a firefighter in the Garrett community, responded to rescue calls at approximately 1:00 a.m. (5:00 a.m.) on Thursday but had to ask to be released at 7:00 a.m. (03:00 a.m.) so he could return to his home, where the water was rapidly rising.

"That made it so difficult for me," he remarked. "Here I am, seeing my house submerged in water, and you have people pleading for assistance. And I could not assist," because he was caring for his family.

When he returned home, the water was up to his knees, and he had to wade across the yard and carry two of his children to the car.

As they left, he had difficulty closing the door of his SUV.

It is the most recent in a series of disastrous deluges that have struck areas of the United States this year, including St. Louis earlier this week and again on Friday. Scientists have cautioned that climate change is increasing the frequency of natural disasters.

President Joe Biden declared a federal disaster to distribute aid funds to over a dozen Kentucky counties.

The flooding affected both western and southern Virginia.

The governor of West Virginia, Jim Justice, announced a state of emergency in six counties where flooding has caused toppled trees, power outages, and blocked roadways.

Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia declared a state of emergency, allowing officials to mobilize resources across the flooded southwest of the state.

Approximately 18,000 utility customers in Kentucky remained without power as of early Saturday morning, according to poweroutage.us.