Tropical Depression Beryl made landfall on Monday near the Gulf Coast town of Matagorda, Texas, bringing torrential rains and strong winds that resulted in at least four fatalities and widespread power outages.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that while Beryl had been downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane, it still posed significant risks as it moved inland. “Considerable flash and urban flooding as well as minor to isolated major river flooding is expected,” the NHC stated, also warning of the possibility of several tornadoes across parts of east Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
Houston, the sprawling city home to 2.3 million people, faced hurricane-strength winds and severe flooding. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez confirmed that a 53-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman died in separate incidents involving trees falling on homes. Additionally, Houston Mayor John Whitmire reported a fatality from a lightning-induced fire and the death of a police department employee who was overtaken by floodwaters on his way to work.
The storm has left approximately 2.6 million households without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us. With temperatures expected to soar above 32 degrees Celsius in the coming days, concerns are growing over heat-related health issues among those without power.
Along the Texas coastline, numerous homes and buildings suffered significant damage, including roofs torn off by the intense winds. Local authorities issued a mix of voluntary and mandatory evacuation orders in several communities prior to Beryl’s arrival, aiming to safeguard residents from the storm’s impact.
Emergency services are working tirelessly to restore power and provide relief to affected communities. Residents are urged to stay informed through official channels and heed safety advisories as recovery efforts continue.
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Beryl downgraded after slamming Texas with deadly rains, wind
cgtn.com
