Onlookers were still reeling this weekend after their homes and local highways, such as this road near Greeley, Colorado, were swallowed up by fierce floodwaters that have been pummelling the state since last Wednesday. For many residents, the road ahead looks bleak: the rains have damaged nearly 17,500 homes and forced almost 12,000 people to evacuate an area that spans 12,000 square kilometres – about the size of Delaware.
According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, five people have died and the death toll may continue to rise as rescue workers attempt to reach areas that are still underwater. The Colorado Office of Emergency Management reported on Sunday that 1253 people were missing.
The damage to bridges and highways, such as this highway – now underneath the muddy waters of the South Platte river – may cost hundreds of millions of dollars to repair. Some areas have reportedly received more than 43 centimetres of rain in the six-day deluge – a total that exceeds the arid state's average annual rainfall by more than 13 centimetres.
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