Virginia flooding damages homes, prompts rescues

Flooding in a remote pocket of southwest Virginia has damaged more than 100 homes and left some 40 people unaccounted for, but there are no confirmed deaths or injuries, authorities said Wednesday.

First responders in Buchanan County, Virginia State began receiving reports of rising water and damage Tuesday night, authorities said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. About 40 people - a mix of adults and children - were reported unaccounted for, but that number was expected to decrease as swift-water rescue teams continued to survey the area, authorities said.

The number of persons unaccounted for is based on relatives trying to contact a resident in an area where there may be limited or no phone service. A shelter was established at a local school. An official from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management said accessing the remote area was part of the struggle for search-and-rescue teams. Many roadways are blocked by landslides and approaches to bridges are washed out, the official said. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency to aid with the response and recovery efforts.