Lives lost as floods create havoc

STORMS dumped more rain on parts of Texas yesterday, bringing more runoff to swollen waterways that spilled their banks this week in places like Houston, where floods have left five people dead and caused chaos in the US’s fourth most populous city.

At least 18 people have been killed in Texas and Oklahoma by storms that started over the Memorial Day weekend and led to record floods, destroying hundreds of homes, sweeping away bridges and stranding more than 2 000 motorists on roads.

The Texas death toll was set to rise as numerous people are still missing and thunderstorms pelt the already flood-hit cities of Houston and Austin.

“This rain has the potential to cause additional street flooding. Residents are advised to be careful as they commute to work,” the city of Houston said.

About 1 400 structures have been damaged by high water and two people were unaccounted for in the city.

The storms dealt a blow to air travel in the region, with more than 200 flights cancelled at airports in Dallas and Houston, some of the nation’s busiest.

Near Dallas, police evacuated people living near a dam that had threatened to burst due to surging floodwaters. Water had topped the Padera Dam, 40km southwest of Dallas, and police called on people living downstream to evacuate and move livestock to higher ground.

Flash flood warnings were expected through the weekend in Texas, the Texas Division of Emergency Management said as more rain was expected. – Reuters