1,600 applicants and counting — a deluge

[cheers100]

Hello,

The following words were excerpted from a report of Washington Post.

Randy Inman, the board president for Shenandoah Family Farms, said he expected the plant’s revival to trigger plenty of interest in its three dozen or so initial jobs. What he did not expect: 1,600 applicants and counting — a deluge[/QUOTE]

Here's the URL link for more context:
www.washingtonpost.com/local/hagerstown-ice-cream-plant-revival-attracts-hundreds-of-desperate-job-seekers/2014/01/05/8cc26fec-74a0-11e3-8b3f-b1666705ca3b_story.html?hpid=z1


1. Is it 1,600 applicants and/ counting — a deluge?

or

2. Is it 1,600 applicants and counting /— a deluge?

I think it should be "counting -a deluge". If I am right, it is okay to write " a deluge of 1600 applicants"?

Many thanks!

 

[SoothingDave]

"1600 and counting" meaning the applications are still coming in. So the actual number will be higher.

This can be described as a deluge of applications.

You could say "a deluge of at least 1600 applications."