Death toll from Hurricane Katrina nears 800

The number of deaths caused by Hurricane Katrina rose to 792 Thursday, after Louisiana announced 558 deaths in the state alone.

The death toll also included 218 deaths in Mississippi, two in Alabama and 14 in Florida.

The death toll in Louisiana saw a rise of 84 over the number announced on Wednesday.

Almost all the deaths in the state occurred in New Orleans, which was inundated by floodwater after levees protecting the city were breached by the hurricane, leaving many people stranded there.

Local officials estimated in the early days after the city was hit by Katrina that there might be as many as 10,000 deaths in the city alone.

Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama were hit by Hurricane Katrina in late August, causing heavy human and economic losses.

Source: Xinhua