Colorado flooding leaves 648 people unaccounted

FORT COLLINS, Colo., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- The number of people unaccounted for in Colorado's floods was downgraded Tuesday to 648, the state's Office of Emergency Management said.

Flood warnings remained in place in several counties in eastern Colorado, and the South Platte River near the town of Balzac in Morgan County was at 11.3 feet, more than a foot above flood stage, the National Weather Service said.

The floods, which began Sept. 11 following heavy rains, have claimed 11 lives, The Denver Post reported

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office reported Tuesday 197 people were unaccounted with 420 evacuated Monday, 1,500 homes destroyed and 4,500 damaged, as well as 200 businesses destroyed and 500 damaged.