Focus shifts to recovery and flooding with Hurricane Matthew heading to sea

The roof a student driver car is pictured partly underwater as a result of Hurricane Matthew in Lumberton, North Carolina, U.S. October 10, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

LUMBERTON, N.C. (Reuters) - Hundreds of people were rescued by boat and helicopter as floodwaters inundated North Carolina towns on Monday in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, and officials warned that life-threatening flooding from swollen rivers would continue for days.

Matthew, the most powerful Atlantic storm since 2007, was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Sunday.