United States: Hurricane Laura, downgraded to tropical storm, killed four in Louisiana

Hurricane Laura caused damage as it passed the town of Sulfur, Louisiana on August 27, 2020. Adrees Latif / Reuters

3 min

Laura is the strongest hurricane Louisiana has seen in a century and a half. He is also one of the most powerful to strike the United States. Despite its power, it did less damage than expected and was downgraded to a tropical storm on Thursday, August 27.

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With our correspondent in Houston, Thomas Harms

On Thursday, August 27, the sun rose over a landscape that was less cataclysmic than the people of east Texas or west Louisiana had feared. But the damage is still significant after the passage of Hurricane Laura , in a region that has not forgotten the trauma of Hurricane Katrina , almost 15 years ago to the day.

Here is the 12 PM CDT 8/27 update for #Laura. Damaging winds and flooding rainfall are spreading inland over the northern portions of Louisiana, while high water levels persist along portions of the coast. More info: https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb and https://t.co/SiZo8ozBbn pic.twitter.com/ItFrBLEELp

  National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 27, 2020

Donald Trump expected in Texas and Lousiane this weekend

Strong winds, up to 240 km / hour, reached the coast at 1 a.m. and hit the town of Cameron, Louisiana, where the 400 residents had been evacuated. In the towns of Beaumont or Lake Charles, buildings and houses have seen their windows explode. Trees have been uprooted. Four people died, victims of falling trees on their homes.

It will take a few days for the rainwater that caused flooding to recede from the coastal areas. More than half a million people had been ordered to evacuate areas near the Gulf of Mexico. Some 700,000 homes are still without electricity.

Since arriving on earth, Laura has lost in intensity. The hurricane was downgraded to a Category 1 cyclone (tropical storm). It continues its journey north and Arkansas. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit the scene in Texas and Lousiane over the weekend.

► To read also: Haiti: first deadly toll of tropical storm Laura

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  • United States
  • Severe weather

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