Relief efforts continue in Asheville and the Western North Carolina area where a major disaster due to Tropical Storm Helene has left communities devastated, roads impassable and thousands without power.

As of Thursday, the death toll in the county had increased and water was still expected to take weeks to fully restore, officials said.

The confirmed death toll in Buncombe County has climbed to 30, the sheriff said at a Sept. 29, 4 p.m. briefing.