Hurricane Katrina causes widespread disasters along US Gulf Coast

Disastrous consequences caused by Hurricane Katrina can be seen everywhere in the US Gulf Coast region Tuesday, as dozens of people were killed and over a million families were left without electricity.

Death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams in boats and helicopters are searching through high water and numerous debris for survivors and victims in areas destroyed by Katrina on the previous day.

The deadly hurricane Monday morning entered Louisiana State with 224 kph winds before ripping through areas in Mississippi, Alabama and western Florida.

Wherever it passed, buildings, vehicles and trees were knocked down, with towns and cities being heavily flooded.

It has also knocked out power supply to some 1.3 million people in the four affected states.

By early Tuesday, Katrina moved further inland to northeastern Mississippi as authorities said it had weakened to a tropical storm.

The total damage is estimated at about 26 billion US dollars, the biggest loss in a single storm in the US history.

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour told media early Tuesday that in Harrison County alone, about 80 people were supposed to be killed, though the number needs to be confirmed.

He said because some areas were unable to reach at the moment, the death toll would very likely grow.

Meanwhile, three people were killed by falling trees elsewhere in the state and two died in a road accident in Alabama.

In Louisiana, there is no immediate report of casualties, but local authorities said some people trapped in some swamped areas were feared dead.

Last week, Katrina claimed 11 lives when it made its first landfall on southern Florida.

US President George W. Bush on Monday declared disasters in Louisiana and Mississippi and rescue efforts were geared up to save as many lives and properties as possible.

The deadly hurricane brought back memories of Hurricane Camille, which hit the US Gulf Coast in 1969 with winds up to 320 kph and claimed 256 lives.

Source: Xinhua