Hurricane Helene kills 44 people across five states in the south-eastern US [Video]

FORTY-FOUR PEOPLE have been killed in five states after Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction across Florida and the south-eastern US.

Rescue attempts were underway to save people from floodwaters after the Category 4 hurricane made landfall late on Thursday in the sparsely populated Big Bend area of Florida with sustained winds of up to 140mph.

It weakened to a post-tropical cyclone on Friday with millions of people left without power, as well as hospitals in southern Georgia, according to Governor Brian Kemp.

At least 15 people have died in Georgia from causes related to Hurricane Helene, according to a spokesman for Mr Kemp.

All five who died in one Florida county were in neighbourhoods where residents were told to evacuate, said Bob Gualtieri, the sheriff in Pinellas County in the St Petersburg area.

Some who stayed ended up having to hide in their attics to escape the rising …