S. cities in danger from flood threat

Conditions leave 21 dead and at least 10 missing

UNITED STATES: Many Texas cities remain in danger though a barrage of deadly thunderstorms has tapered, as officials warn about the possibility of more flooding from rainswollen rivers.

The storms and floods in Texas and Oklahoma this week have left at least 21 people dead and at least 10 others missing.

In suburban Houston, the rains have pushed the San Jacinto River above flood stage, and its waters were expected to cover streets in subdivisions along the west fork of the river, possibly stranding people in their homes for days if they do not leave.

In Wharton, about 60 miles south-west of Houston, the mayor asked residents to voluntarily evacuate about 300 homes on the west side of the city due to the predicted rise of the Colorado River.

In the Parker County town of Horseshoe Bend in north Texas, officials asked about 250 residents to leave their homes as the Brazos River was expected to rise above its flood stage of 21ft.

Meanwhile, in central Texas, crews continued searching for nine people feared dead after the swollen Blanco River smashed through Wimberley, a small tourist town between San Antonio and Austin, over the Memorial Day weekend. In Houston, residents whose homes were flooded by torrential rains on Monday and Tuesday also continued their clean-up efforts.

While the Houston area got a respite, the heavy rains from earlier in the week were still making their way downstream.

The San Jacinto was at 52ft, nearly three feet above its flood stage, said Kim Jackson of the Harris County Flood Control District.