Evacuations as US state of Vermont hit by catastrophic floods

President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in the northeastern US state of Vermont as heavy rains triggered flooding from which dozens of residents were rescued by boat.

The move came after officials warned that a dam close to the state capital Montpelier was nearing capacity and close to spilling into a river. There were no immediate reports of any deaths or injuries in the state from the rains.

Much of the northeastern United States, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Vermont, was lashed by rain on Sunday and Monday, washing out bridges and leaving roads impassable. More than 100 people in Vermont had been rescued from cars and homes as of midday Tuesday.