US:Rescuers made their way through piles of debris and water-filled streets in Texas seaside towns yesterday after Hurricane Ike flooded hundreds of miles of US coastline, cut power to millions and pummelled the oil hub of Houston.
A weakened Ike pushed northward after slamming into the Texas coast as a giant Category 2 hurricane on Saturday, leaving extensive devastation in its wake.
Officials have barely begun to assess the damage, which early estimates put in the billions of dollars. There were no confirmed reports of deaths.
Ike, which caused the suspension of a quarter of US crude oil production and refining capacity, swamped the island city of Galveston and hammered Houston, the fourth most populous US city.
The sea wall protecting the coastal barrier island of Galveston was piled high with the detritus of wrecked buildings, boats and other debris. Wreckage and floodwaters have hampered rescuers' attempt to search Galveston, where about 10,000 people ignored a mandatory evacuation order. Heavy rains across Houston threatened more flooding.
In Houston, officials yesterday extended a 9pm-6am curfew, citing lack of electricity and downed power lines. Some 30 people have been arrested for looting, police said.
According to insurance industry estimates, Ike could lead to $8-18 billion (€5.6-12.7 billion) in claims. Federal and state officials, including homeland security secretary Michael Chertoff, toured storm-hit areas yesterday.
US president George Bush will visit Texas tomorrow.
About two million people evacuated before Ike made landfall early on Saturday. Officials urged residents to stay away, but many have returned to survey the damage. About 4.5 million people could face weeks of power outages.
The storm weakened to a tropical depression yesterday as it moved across western Arkansas, heading north on a path expected to bring heavy rains over an area stretching to Canada. - (Reuters)