At least five reported dead amid flooding in US state of Indiana

What the report says

Indiana is dealing with severe flooding after a week of heavy rain and storms that have left at least five people dead, according to Al Jazeera’s report citing state and local authorities. Rescue crews have continued searching for people stranded by high water, while emergency responders have used boats to reach residents trapped in flooded homes, including in Indianapolis.

Governor Mike Braun said the state had asked the White House for a presidential emergency declaration and later said the federal government had pledged assistance. In his statement, Braun said he had spoken with President Donald Trump about the storms and flooding and was awaiting approval of the request. He urged residents to treat floodwaters as dangerous and avoid them.

The report said the White River in Indianapolis overflowed its banks, contributing to what Mayor Joe Hogsett described as the city’s worst flooding in more than 30 years. The National Weather Service was cited as saying that some areas received more than 280 mm, or 11 inches, of rain over two days.

Among the deaths reported by local officials were a 58-year-old woman believed to have died after driving into floodwaters, a 4-year-old child killed when a tree fell on a home in Jennings County, and a teen whose body was found after being reported missing earlier in the week. The flooding highlights the risks of driving through inundated roads and the strain on local emergency services during prolonged storms.