Fifteen dead as South Carolina gripped by historic flooding

Family pets watch as Michael Carroll (not pictured) arrives to check on them at the Carroll family flooded property in Conway, South Carolina October 6, 2015. The Carroll family has been living with several feet of water on their land since Saturday. [Photo/Agencies]

More than 2 feet (60 cm) of rain have fallen since Friday in parts of South Carolina. The state avoided a hit from Hurricane Joaquin but experienced historic rainfall and flooding due to a combination of weather mostly unrelated to that storm.

Of the 15 people who died, nine drowned and six were killed in weather-related car crashes, the emergency agency said. The extended rainstorm also was blamed for two deaths in North Carolina.

In the South Carolina capital of Columbia, which experienced its wettest days on record over the weekend, the University of South Carolina canceled classes through Friday.