The death toll from a devastating storm that battered the southeastern United States climbed to 118 on Monday. 

The disaster has become a hot topic in an already bitter election campaign, with the White House angrily refuting claims that it had been slow to respond.

With hundreds still missing across several southeastern U.S. states and the death toll rising, President Joe Biden announced he would travel to storm-ravaged North Carolina on Wednesday to monitor rescue efforts.

Biden also accused former President Donald Trump of spreading lies after the Republican presidential candidate claimed that the federal government was ignoring the disaster caused by Hurricane Helene and denying help to his supporters.

"He's lying," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that he had spoken to North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper "and he told him he's lying. I don't know why he does it. That's simply not true, and it's irresponsible."

At least 118 people have been killed by the storm and associated flooding – 49 in North Carolina, 25 in South Carolina, 25 in Georgia, 14 in Florida, four in Tennessee and one in Virginia, according to tallies from local authorities compiled by AFP.

Emergency workers continued a grim search for hundreds of people still unaccounted for across the affected states, where torrential rains caused widespread havoc. They also worked to restore water and power supply, remove fallen trees, deliver supplies and register people for disaster assistance.

Authorities warned that the death toll was expected to rise, with cell phone service knocked out across much of the region and up to 600 people still missing.

In response to Trump's criticism that he was "sleeping" instead of dealing with the storm damage, Biden defended his decision to spend the weekend at his home in Delaware, stating he was working "the whole time."

When a major natural disaster strikes the United States, the federal government responds at the request of the states. A president's role typically involves overseeing and coordinating aid, including funding.

Scientists say climate change likely plays a role in the rapid intensification of hurricanes, as warmer oceans provide more energy for them to feed on, and Biden emphasized this point on Monday.

"Absolutely, positively, unequivocally, yes, yes, yes, yes," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if climate change was to blame for the destruction left by the storm.

(With input from AFP)