Biden defends US govt response as hurricane kills 130

The death toll from a devastating storm that battered the south-eastern US climbed to at least 130 on Sept 30, as the disaster became a hot topic in an already bitter election campaign, with the White House angrily refuting claims it had been slow to respond.

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With hundreds still missing across several south-eastern US states and the death toll rising, President Joe Biden announced he would travel to storm-ravaged North Carolina on Oct 2 to monitor rescue efforts.

Mr Biden also accused former president Donald Trump of spreading lies, after the Republican presidential candidate charged, without evidence, that the federal government was ignoring the disaster brought on by Hurricane Helene and denying help to his supporters.

"He's lying," Mr Biden told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that he had spoken to North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.

"(I)... told him (Trump)'s lying. I don't know why he does it... that's simply not true, and it's irresponsible," added Mr Biden.

Later on CNN, Mr Cooper, a Democrat, said when asked about Trump's accusations of Republican victims being ignored: "It makes no difference who you are.

If you need help, we are going to provide it.

"And if there is ever a time when we all need to come together and put politics aside, it is now." At least 130 people were killed by the storm and associated flooding -57 in North Carolina, 29 in South Carolina, 25 in Georgia, 14 in Florida, four in Tennessee and one in Virginia, according to tallies from the local authorities compiled by AFP.