Search icon

News

18th Jul 2023

Children lost in US following extreme flooding

Ellen Fitzpatrick

Children have been reported missing in the US after extreme weather conditions have developed.

Authorities in Pennsylvania drew on 100 people, drones and cadaver dogs as they searched for two missing children after their family’s car was swept away in flash flooding.

They have since described the search for two year old Matilda Sheils and her nine month old brother Conrad as a “massive undertaking” along a creek which drains into the Delaware River.

The children are originally from Charleston, South Carolina, and were visiting relatives when they were caught in the flash flooding on Saturday.

Their father Jim Sheils grabbed their four year old brother and their mum Katie Seley and a grandmother stayed with their other children, Upper Makefield Township fire chief Tim Brewer said.

While the father and older son made it to safety, their mum and grandmother were swept away in the flood.

While the grandmother survived the ordeal, sadly Katie was among the five that were killed in the flood.

The flash flood in Pennsylvania saw Enzo Depiero, 78, and Linda Depiero, 74, of Newtown; Yuko Love, 64, of Newtown; and Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, New Jersey all lose their lives, Bucks County coroner Meredith Buck said.

There has now been an emergency declaration signed by county commissioners in response to the flooding.

READ MORE