At least 3 are dead, others missing in Bucks County after a potent thunderstorm sets off floodwaters

»Live coverage: 3 people killed in Bucks County flooding, with several still missing

At least three people were killed after a powerful thunderstorm set off destructive flooding that closed roads and resulted in multiple water rescues late Saturday afternoon in the Washington Crossing area of Bucks County, officials said.

“The number of fatalities could climb,” said county Coroner Meredith Buck. Of the rescue operation, she said, “it’s only beginning, sadly.”

Dean Iovino, a lead forecaster at the National Weather Service, quoted emergency officials as saying 12 people remained unaccounted for late Saturday night.

Said Buck late Saturday night: “There’s a lot of water rescues happening right now. There’s a lot going on.”

Iovino said that 4.64 inches of rain had fallen in a two-hour period ending around 6 p.m. That’s about six weeks’ worth of rain, and more than Las Vegas receives annually.

He said that like so many summer thunderstorms, this one was narrowly focused. Unfortunately, it inundated places not far from the Delaware River that are no strangers to flooding.

“It’s a problematic area,” Iovino said.

After the deluge, Washington Crossing Road adjacent to Houghs Creek was littered with downed trees, debris, and a few abandoned cars.

“There were several vehicles in high water,” Tim Brewer, Upper Makefield fire chief, told NBC10 at the scene. “Rescue attempts were made, some were successful. There are reports of some people missing. At this point we are still in a search-and-rescue operation.”

The storm appeared to target its ferocity in Upper and Lower Makefield Townships; however, a few miles away, roads became impassable in Yardley, and floodwaters covered Route 32.

The floods came just six days after profoundly heavy rains had targeted other parts of Upper Bucks. More than a half-foot was measured in Quakertown last Sunday.

Ominously, the National Weather Service has the entire region under a 24-hour flood watch Sunday, with more of those random, isolated downpours possible.

“With all this humidity,” said Iovino, “there’s nothing to clear it out.”

Staff writer Diane Mastrull and photographer Elizabeth Robertson contributed to this article.