Hurricane Helene: Death Toll Rises to 25 in South Carolina
Upstate Region Bears the Brunt of the Hurricane’s Fury
In the devastating wake of Hurricane Helene, South Carolina is grappling with a death toll that has escalated to 25, with 15 fatalities reported in the Upstate region alone. A residence in Greenville experienced a tragic fatality after candles fueled a deadly blaze in a power-blackout-induced tragedy.
Death in Greenville: Home Blaze Claims Life
A woman in Greenville fell victim to a deadly house fire on Sunday, indicated Deputy Coroner Shelton England, the flames sparked by candles enlisted for illumination in the power outage following Hurricane Helen. The victim’s identity has not yet been revealed.
Another Fatality in Anderson County
Hurricane Helene’s wrath led to yet another loss in Anderson County, making this death the fourth in this county alone. Karen Denise McCall, 60, lost her life Friday morning when her car was caught in and subsequently carried away by surging stormwater. Upon failing to appear for a designated pickup, McCall’s family reported her missing. Her car was later discovered in a wooded vicinity near the extensively flooded Harbin Road.
Storm-Related Deaths Across the State
With the fatal incident involving the Greenville woman and McCall’s tragic end, the Hurricane Helene storm-related death count in South Carolina has reached 25, as per the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. Apart from Anderson, other counties have also reported deaths: five in Greenville, six in Spartanburg, four in Aiken, one in Chesterfield, two in Newberry, and three in Saluda. Falling trees caused a number of these fatalities, leaving the police to urge residents to stay off the roads for safety.
Other Tragic Losses in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson
Among the lives claimed by the storm were individuals in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson who were tragically killed in their homes or while outside due to falling trees or other storm-related accidents.
Death by Falling Trees
These victims included Anna Maria Smith from Inman, Alvaro Burgos-Guitierrez from Chesnee, Lordner Lee Palmer from Greenville, Aaron Marshall Lance from Marietta, and Moreno Arnez Maddox from Greenville, who all died when trees crashed onto their homes or them while outside.
Accidents Related to Storm Outage
Among others, a Greenville woman and Christine Lynn Schmeiske from Anderson died in house fires caused by candles lit due to power outages. Jimmy Lee Wall from Chesnee was found lifeless in his home with dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide, a result of a generator running inside the residence. Victims Bobby Jean Foster from Pelzer, Ralph Selle from Columbus N.C, Christopher Mark Owens and Derrill Eugene Pitts from Landrum, and Charles Daly Dean III from Greenville died in accidents, ranging from a head-on collision to being trapped under debris or struck by a fallen tree.
As the region continues to recover, let’s hope that the death toll does not rise any further.
