Up to three people have died in flash floods that have sparked alerts in several US states. Flash flood warnings are also in place in parts of Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. More heavy rains are forecast into the weekend.

The rains turned a normally placid creek into "a Class V whitewater river", said Pulaski County Sheriff Ron Long. Some 15in (38cm) of rain was recorded in a 48-hour period near Waynesville.

A baby was among those rescued from the flood waters

At least 100 homes and businesses in Hollister, Missouri, were damaged when a creek flooded. Scores of people were evacuated, some of whom had to be rescued by boat.

The Interstate 44 motorway in central Missouri reopened on Thursday after floodwaters receded, but many other roads remained inundated in the south of the state.

In Nashville, Tennessee, firefighters had to wade through waist-deep floodwaters to rescue residents of one apartment building, after up to 8in of rain fell in a few hours.

Arkansas saw about 10in of rain fall in Benton County, while parts of Kansas and Oklahoma saw 6in of rain.

(Source: BBC)