GILBERT, W.Va. — Volunteer firefighters and other emergency officials were on the Tug Fork River in Mingo County Thursday searching for a man who was reportedly swept away in high water Wednesday evening.
Three men parked on the West Virginia shore between Beech Creek and Ben Creek and waded the Tug Fork River to Kentucky where they were digging yellow root, according to the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department. A hard storm caused the river to rise. Authorities said the three decided to leave and wade back across the water to their truck. During the crossing, one of the individuals was swept away by the rising water.
Crews from Kentucky and West Virginia are participating in the search which resumed early Thursday morning.
Mingo County is one of the 29 counties under a flash flood watch Thursday with more torrential storms expected in the next 24 hours.