US floods kill 16

Many city roads remain underwater

Sixteen people are now known to have died in the devastating floods which hit the US states of Texas and Louisiana on Friday and Saturday.

Houston, the biggest Texas city has been worst hit. The authorities say at least 15 people have died there. At least one storm-related death was reported in Louisiana.

Thousands of people in Houston and neighbouring counties have been forced from their homes.

Many were forced to improvise an escape from the rising waters

President George W Bush has declared 28 counties of south-east Texas a disaster area, and has ordered federal aid to bolster local efforts.

Some estimates put the flood damage at least $1bn.

A spokesman from the mayor's office said that those who died had mostly drowned, including one woman who died in a flooded lift shaft in Houston.

However, at least two people died of electrocution after coming into contact with downed power lines, said the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Tropical deluge

The floods were caused by tropical storm Allison, the first named storm of the hurricane season, which came ashore last week.

The National Guard has been deployed to help with the relief effort

A rain gauge in Houston showed that the storm had deposited nearly three feet (one metre) of rain there.

Emergency officials in the city used boats and helicopters to rescue thousands of residents trapped by rising waters at the height of the floods.

"There are more people out there on rooftops than we can possibly even count, much less help," said a Coast Guard spokesman, Rob Wyman.

Nine of the city's major hospitals have declared internal emergencies, many of them affected by power failures.

All the main roads into Houston were flooded to some degree, and many drivers were stranded as their cars either sank or floated in the flood waters.

Alligator alert

In Louisiana, alligators agitated by the storm's thunder and lightening, wandered into residential areas.

Officials in two parishes reported capturing 40 alligators during the week.

"I'll release them back into the swamps unless they are big and aggressive," said Richard Roussel IV, an alligator nuisance control officer for St John Parish.