An apartment building partially collapses in Fairmont, West Virginia amid flash flooding.
WHEELING, W.Va. – At least five people have been killed, and four others remain missing after dangerous
flash flooding impacted
Wheeling and surrounding communities in
West Virginia over the weekend, according to the Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Agency. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey provided a somber update on Facebook Sunday afternoon when he announced the deaths, including a 3-year-old child, due to the
flooding . "There were roughly 3 to 4 inches of water that fell in the area in less than an hour. That's very, very difficult to deal with," Morrisey said as he commended the first responders attempting to reach people during the flooding. Search and rescue efforts are resuming Monday morning and officials continue to urge people to stay off local roads. Most of the impacts from the flash flooding were in the northern and central parts of the state. Lou Vargo, the director of the Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Agency, told FOX Weather that as soon as the rain began on Saturday, 911 calls requesting help were received, and some people were forced to cling to trees to not be carried away by the fast-moving floodwaters. "We’re also working with
family members to see if they just were displaced," Vargo said. "We also have a mass-care center set up for the people that we’ve evacuated from parts of the Valley Grove and Tridelphia area." Numerous
Flash Flood Warnings and a rare Flash Flood Emergency were issued by the National Weather Service office in
Pittsburgh late Saturday night and early Sunday morning as the rain was falling, overwhelming rivers and streams and sending water rushing into communities. Wheeling Creek rose 7 feet in under 2 hours, according to the FOX Forecast Center. At least three people are dead, and several are missing after dangerous flash flooding was reported in parts of West Virginia overnight. Director of the Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Agency Lou Vargo joined FOX Weather with the latest information on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Because of the damage to
infrastructure , like roads and bridges, emergency crews were unable to respond to some incidents. "We were delayed in getting there because there was just so much damage," Vargo said at a news conference. In addition, Vargo said
drones and cadaver
dogs are searching for those who are missing. "We just plead for you to stay away from that area and let the first responders and the Department of Highways and all the services out there do our jobs so we can get citizens back into their
homes as quickly as possible," Vargo said. A video shared by the fire department in Wheeling, West Virginia, shows mud and debris in flood waters on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Thousands of power outages have also been reported, but work to restore service can not begin until natural gas leaks reported in the area have been resolved. "Some of those houses could be in an explosive situation, so turning the power on could cause an explosion," Vargo continued. "So, the power company and the gas company are working very closely together to coordinate everything." An apartment building partially collapses in Fairmont, West Virginia amid flash flooding on Sunday, June 15, 2025.
Partial apartment building collapses amid flooding
A Flash Flood Emergency was issued for the community of
Fairmont , West Virginia in Marion County, some 90 miles southeast of Wheeling, after the National Weather Service said between 1.5 and 3 inches of rain had fallen in a short time. Multiple water rescues were reported by local law enforcement in Fairmont and an apartment building partially collapsed. A witness impacted by the flooding said in a social media post that water began pouring through the windows and the building's first floor before it collapsed. Flooding along Pleasant Valley in Fairmont, West Virginia on Sunday, June 15, 2025. The governor announced an emergency declaration for Marion County on Sunday evening. "Emergency officials are on the scene in Marion County at a partial apartment collapse," Morrisey said. "State resources are being dispatched to the region immediately. Please — stay off the roads. Do not underestimate the strength and speed of these floods." Video shows flooding along Patteson Drive in Morgantown on Sunday, June 15, 2025 during a Flash Flood Warning. The FOX Forecast Center said more rain will continue to fall across the flooded area through midweek.
