Hurricane Laura death toll climbs to 14 in the US

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionHurricane Laura left a trail of destruction in Louisiana and Texas

Fourteen people are now confirmed dead in the United States after Hurricane Laura battered southern states.

Ten of the victims were in Louisiana and four in Texas.

vCard QR Code

vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.

The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.

Winds of up to 150mph (240km/h) caused severe damage, with power cuts to more than half a million homes and a chemical fire from an industrial plant.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has asked the federal government for immediate financial assistance in dealing with the fallout.

President Donald Trump will travel to the two states on Saturday to meet with people affected by the hurricane, the White House said.

Laura has now been downgraded to tropical storm status, but heavy rain is still falling on several states.

In Haiti, which was earlier badly hit by storms Marco and Laura, at least 31 people are now reported to have died.

What’s the latest in the US?

Mr Edwards said he has asked President Trump to declare a federal disaster for 23 parishes in Louisiana.

“Hurricane Laura is the fifth strongest storm to make landfall in the United States in recorded history and the first in memory to maintain major hurricane strength as it travelled through Louisiana, bringing catastrophic destruction to many parishes,” Mr Edwards said in a statement.

Speaking at a press conference, he called Laura “the strongest storm to ever hit Louisiana”.

Image copyright
Getty Images

Image caption

A man salvages what he can from his store in Lake Charles

Of the 10 people to lose their lives in the state, five died from carbon monoxide poisoning from gas-powered emergency generators, four from trees falling and one who drowned.

In Texas, a man was killed when a tree hit his home, and three people lost their lives in Port Arthur, possibly from carbon monoxide poisoning, officials reported.

Around 8,000 homes were possibly destroyed in the two states, according to the Red Cross.

Nic Hunter, mayor of one of the hardest hit areas – Lake Charles in Louisiana – said it was unclear when electricity and water supplies would be restored.

“If you come back to Lake Charles to stay, make sure you understand the above reality and are prepared to live in it for many days, probably weeks,” he wrote on Facebook.

Image copyright
Getty Images

Image caption

Many have been left without electricity

There was more structural damage from winds than anticipated, but the water damage was less than feared.

Some 1,500 people, including National Guard troops, are being deployed in rescue and clean-up missions.

What other areas have suffered?

The death toll in Haiti has risen by 10 to 31 and eight people are missing, the country’s civil protection service said. More than 6,000 homes were flooded in the country.

Four people are known to have died in neighbouring Dominican Republic.

Cuba suffered damage but did not record any deaths.

In Jamaica, there were reports of landslides and flooded roads.

The US territory of Puerto Rico was also hit, with President Trump declaring a state of disaster last Saturday.

source: bbc.com


🕐 Top News in the Last Hour By Importance Score

# Title 📊 i-Score
1 I visited American town being hit by world's most infectious disease… the terrifying reality in ground zero 🔴 78 / 100
2 Conservative pension funds forced to merge 🔴 76 / 100
3 IDF: 'Operational misunderstanding' led to killing of Gaza medics 🔴 75 / 100
4 Microbiologist reveals stomach-churning reason you should NEVER wear outdoor shoes in the house… 🔴 65 / 100
5 Freddie Flintoff almost left store 'bankrupt' as a teen before getting axed from job 🔵 52 / 100
6 Steven Seagal and longtime nemesis Jean-Claude Van Damme send fans into a frenzy with surprise reunion photo 🔵 45 / 100
7 Exes Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson Join Royal Family at Easter Service 🔵 40 / 100
8 Extend Time Between Haircuts and Treat Split Ends With a $7 Must-Have 🔵 35 / 100
9 TV tie-in MMO looter shooter Defiance returns for a free-to-play third shot at life and gigantic messy boss battles 🔵 30 / 100
10 Nigella Lawson's lemon pavlova is the perfect 'showstopper dessert' 🔵 20 / 100

View More Top News ➡️