Hurricane Harvey: Nine died as the catastrophic deluge continues

At least nine people have lost their lives as a result of the catastrophic flooding due to Hurricane Harvey in Houston, said the officials in Texas.

Six of the persons belong from Harris County, home to Houston; one in Rockport, near where Harvey made landfall; and another in La Marque, near Galveston, reported the Washington Post.

The Texas authorities expects the death toll to rise in the coming days as rescue efforts continue and more rain, rising rivers and surging floodwaters pummel the Gulf Coast.

As per the weather department, up to 20 inches of additional rain could be witnessed in parts of Texas and Louisiana by Thursday.

 

Till now around 2,000 people have been rescued and more than 30,000 people would be forced from their homes. But yet the full toll of Harvey's destruction remained unclear due to the deluge.

President Donald Trump will also visit the flood hit area in Texas on Tuesday.

He earlier assured that the provision of quick action by the government to provide relief for the areas devastated by the Hurricane Harvey.

"I think that you're going to see very rapid action from Congress, certainly from the president . you're going to get your funding," he said.

Trump also approved a Louisiana emergency declaration as rain and flooding from Hurricane Harvey's aftermath continued to hit the region.

This move from the President gives the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the authorization to "coordinate all disaster relief efforts".

The White House, in a statement, said, "The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts."

"This action will help to alleviate the hardship and suffering that the emergency has inflicted on the local population," added the White House

Trump had already announced a disaster proclamation for Texas, granting the state federal aid as Harvey made landfall.

The storm is Trump's first major natural disaster in office and will be the first major hurricane to hit the U.S. since 2005.

The President is closely monitoring the storm as it approached the U.S.