Kentucky flooding death toll reaches 15 and may double, governor says

The death toll from catastrophic flooding in eastern Kentucky has reached 15 people. 

Gov. Andy Beshear told The Associated Press on Friday that the number is expected to more than double and would "include some children."

Search and rescue teams backed by the National Guard looked tirelessly for missing people – in helicopters and boats – and Beshear noted that determining the number of people who remain unaccounted for is "tough."

Over 200 have sought shelter and more than 23,000 Kentucky residents were still without power. 

According to tracker PowerOutage.US, 23,185 customers were affected following the deadly floodwaters and mudslides that damaged hundreds of homes and vehicles. 

In a tweet, Beshear warned that central and eastern Kentucky remain under a flood watch.