Toll in Texas mounts as Harvey menaces further east

HOUSTON: Storm-battered Houston began limping towards recovery Thursday as Harvey's floodwaters started receding there, though the historic storm was still wreaking havoc further east, reports AFP.

While clouds parted at last in America's fourth-largest city, rural areas of Texas were drenched as Harvey headed eastwards, with the city of Port Arthur especially hard hit.

Authorities in Louisiana scrambled to safeguard their state from Harvey, whose onslaught evoked painful memories of Hurricane Katrina's deadly strike 12 years ago -- but New Orleans escaped with minimal rain.

Vice President Mike Pence was to visit Texas Thursday to meet victims of the torrential rains and assess damage.

Though some areas had finally caught a glimpse of blue sky, dangers remained for the US Gulf Coast, not least the threat of explosion at a chemical plant near Houston.

Also in Houston rescuers had recovered bodies of six family members from a van swept away by floods over the weekend.

"Our worst fears have been realized," Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told journalists, confirming the bodies of Manuel and Belia Saldivar and four of their great-grandchildren had been discovered.

Officials believe at least 33 people have been killed in the storm. There is little doubt the toll will rise further -- although many of those unaccounted for may simply have no phone or power access.

More than 30,000 people have found refuge in shelters across the Lone Star State, from the giant Houston convention center to small churches, according to the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Brock Long.

In Houston, where Mayor Sylvester Turner issued an nighttime curfew to aid search efforts and thwart potential looting, the two major airports reopened on a limited basis, signaling a slow return to normality.

Toll in Texas mounts as Harvey menaces further east

HOUSTON: Storm-battered Houston began limping towards recovery Thursday as Harveys floodwaters started receding there, though the historic storm was still wreaking havoc further east, reports AFP. While clouds parted at last in Americas fourth-largest city, rural areas of Texas were drenched as Harvey headed eastwards, with the city of Port Arthur especially hard hit. Authorities in Louisiana scrambled to safeguard their state from Harvey, whose onslaught evoked painful memories of Hurricane Katrinas deadly strike 12 years ago -- but New Orleans escaped with minimal rain. Vice President Mike Pence was to visit Texas Thursday to meet victims of the torrential rains and assess damage. Though some areas had finally caught a glimpse of blue sky, dangers remained for the US Gulf Coast, not least the threat of explosion at a chemical plant near Houston. Also in Houston rescuers had recovered bodies of six family members from a van swept away by floods over the weekend. Our worst fears have been realized, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told journalists, confirming the bodies of Manuel and Belia Saldivar and four of their great-grandchildren had been discovered. Officials believe at least 33 people have been killed in the storm. There is little doubt the toll will rise further -- although many of those unaccounted for may simply have no phone or power access. More than 30,000 people have found refuge in shelters across the Lone Star State, from the giant Houston convention center to small churches, according to the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Brock Long. In Houston, where Mayor Sylvester Turner issued an nighttime curfew to aid search efforts and thwart potential looting, the two major airports reopened on a limited basis, signaling a slow return to normality.