The death toll from catastrophic flooding in eastern Kentucky has reached 16 people, including six children.

"Folks, that's gonna get a lot higher," Gov. Andy Beshear said during a Friday briefing. Earlier in the day, Beshear said he expected the death toll to potentially reach 30.

The six children include four siblings – ages 8, 6, 4 and 1 – who were swept away from their parents' arms in the rising water, Beshear confirmed. The two parents, Amber Smith and Riley Noble, were found alive, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.

Beshear also confirmed the deaths of an 81-year-old woman in Perry County, a 79-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman in Letcher County, and a 76-year-old woman in Clay County.

Eleven of the deaths occurred in Knott County, including a 63-year-old man, a 65-year-old woman and two children, Beshear said.

Search and rescue teams backed by the National Guard looked tirelessly for missing people — in helicopters and boats — and Beshear noted that determining the number of those who remain unaccounted for is "tough."

Over 200 have sought shelter and more than 23,000 Kentucky residents were still without power.

KENTUCKY FLOODING KILLS 8, DEATH TOLL EXPECTED TO HIT DOUBLE DIGITS, GOVERNOR SAYS

According to tracker PowerOutage.us, 23,185 customers were affected following the deadly floodwaters and mudslides that damaged hundreds of homes and vehicles.

In a tweet, Beshear warned that central and eastern Kentucky remain under a flood watch.

Aerial view of homes submerged under flood waters from the North Fork of the Kentucky River in Jackson, Ky., on July 28, 2022. (LEANDRO LOZADA/AFP via Getty Images)

A home is almost completely submerged by floodwaters from the North Fork of the Kentucky River in Jackson, Ky., on July 28, 2022. (LEANDRO LOZADA/AFP via Getty Images)

Homes along Gross Loop off of KY-15 are flooded with water from the North Fork of the Kentucky River. (Arden S. Barnes/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

A man walks with water up to his knees on the street flooded by the North Fork of the Kentucky River in Jackson, Kentucky on July 28, 2022. (LEANDRO LOZADA/AFP via Getty Images)

"While rain totals are not expected to be as high, flooding still remains a concern due to saturated grounds. Please stay safe and alert, Kentucky," he wrote.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Jackson tweeted that the area would see a "decent break" from Friday night and into Saturday.

KENTUCKY FLOODING: AT LEAST 3 DEAD, HUNDREDS OF HOMES COULD BE DESTROYED, GOV. BESHEAR SAYS

"More rain and storms arrive Sunday through Tuesday, with heavy rainfall possible Sunday and Monday," it said.

Members of the Morehead Fire Department conduct search and rescue operations in Jackson, Ky., on July 28, 2022. (Michael Swensen/Getty Images)

Lewis Ritchie pulls a kayak through the water after delivering groceries to his father-in-law outside Jackson, Ky., on July 28, 2022. (Michael Swensen/Getty Images)

A bridge and a road are submerged by floodwaters from the North Fork of the Kentucky River in Jackson, Ky., on July 28, 2022. (LEANDRO LOZADA/AFP via Getty Images)

A member of the Jackson Fire Department reacts outside his vehicle in Jackson, Ky., on July 28, 2022. (Michael Swensen/Getty Images)

The area had already been hit by days of torrential rain, and parts of western Virginia and southern West Virginia were also impacted by flooding.

More than 7,500 outages were also shown in Virginia on Friday.

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West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency for six counties in his state after severe thunderstorms this week caused significant local flooding.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kentucky flooding death toll reaches 16 and will 'get a lot higher,' governor says

Hundreds of Kentucky homes and vehicles were damaged in the historic flooding