At least 44 people killed and millions of households left without power as Hurricane Helene caused devastating flooding in the southeastern US states before gradually weakening.

From the Tallahassee, Florida until the Charlotte, North Carolinaheavy rains and strong winds caused massive damage. More than 4 million households were without electricity on Friday night, according to the specialist website poweroutage.us.

At least 20 people died in South Carolina, 15 in Georgia, 7 in Florida, one in North Carolina and one in Virginia, according to an AFP tally based on reports from local authorities.

Hurricane Helene made landfall in northwest Florida Thursday afternoon as a Category 4 hurricane, in five-point Saffir-Simpson scalewith winds blowing at 225 km/h. It was the strongest hurricane ever to hit the area, according to expert Michael Lowry.

It has now weakened to a tropical storm, but authorities warn that the risk of flooding and landslides has not passed.