Hurricane Beryl Claims Eight Lives Across the US
Following Hurricane Beryl’s damage, at least eight people have died in the southern United States. Before being downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Tuesday, the storm, which had originally made landfall in Texas as a Category 1 hurricane from the Gulf of Mexico, had torn down trees and caused significant flooding.
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Hurricane Beryl Leaves Millions Without Power and Claims Eight Lives in Texas and Louisiana
Millions of people in the Houston region were left without electricity and battling under a heat advisory, making it an especially hard-hit area. Speaking out, President Joe Biden referred to the extreme heat as “the greatest concern.”
In Texas, seven fatalities were reported due to the storm, and an additional death occurred in neighbouring Louisiana. Beryl, once a Category 5 hurricane, had previously ravaged the Caribbean, bringing the total death toll to at least 18.
About 2 million homes in Texas without electricity as of Tuesday night, and when humidity is taken into consideration, temperatures are predicted to surge to 106 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius). Biden emphasised the urgency of addressing the power outages and extreme heat.
Louisiana faced similar challenges, with 14,000 homes also without power. Residents were placed in air-conditioned shelters as teams put in endless hours to get services back up and running.
Despite weakening on Tuesday, Beryl continued its path northeast through the Midwest, still posing risks of flooding and tornadoes. Houston, a city of 2.3 million people, experienced significant damage from hurricane-strength winds and flooding. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez reported deaths caused by falling trees, while Houston Mayor John Whitmire noted fatalities from a lightning strike-induced fire and floodwaters.
In Louisiana, a death due to a fallen tree was confirmed by the Bossier Parish sheriff’s office. As communities begin to recover, the focus remains on restoring power and ensuring the safety of residents amid the lingering threats of extreme weather.
