At least 17 people are known to have died with another 30 missing after a flash flood swept a US campsite.

A flash flood swept down the Little Missouri river in western Arkansas and flooded a campsite and surrounding area. The water rose more than 6m in four hours.

Mobile homes and wood cabins were knocked down by the force of the water and cars were carried away by the flood. The water hit at night, when many campers were asleep in their tents.

The area lies in a valley surrounded by three mountain ranges which has made rescue efforts difficult. Roads have been blocked by landslides and mobile phones don’t have reception in the area. It’s hard to know how many people are missing as lists of the names of people camping were washed away by the water.