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Person found in Buncombe County listed as 105th fatality from Helene in North Carolina

A candlelit crowd at Asheville's vigil on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Gerard Albert III
A candlelit crowd at Asheville's vigil on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

This week, the North Carolina Medical Examiner's Office listed an additional Hurricane Helene-related fatality in Buncombe County, stemming from the discovery of the person's body on Dec. 20, 2024.

After confirming the person died due to Hurricane Helene, state officials said the total is now 105 storm-related fatalities, with 43 of those recorded in Buncombe, as of Jan. 29, 2025.

READ MORE: How volunteers at one organization in WNC fueled a conspiracy about death counts

Officials say the exact cause of death for the most recent person found is not yet determined. The state office did not release the person's name, age, or gender.

Earlier this month, North Carolina provided a list of 104 people who officials say died due to Helene. The records show the names and dates of deaths of Helene victims statewide.

Of those killed by Helene in North Carolina, more than 4 of every 5 victims were found and included in the state's official report within less than two weeks of Helene striking the mountains, according to BPR's analysis of publicly available data.

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