Some of the worst flooding in Kentucky history has killed at least eight people so far, officials said Thursday, and the death toll is expected to keep rising.

In a word, this event is devastating, Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said at a news conference addressing the floods in the eastern half of the state. And I do believe it will end up being one of the most significant deadly floods that we have had in Kentucky in at least a very long time.

One of the deaths was that of an 81-year-old woman in Perry County, Beshear said.

Unfortunately, I expect double-digit deaths in this flooding, Beshear said. Thats something that we rarely see.