Hurricane Laura: Death toll reaches 14 in the US

Deadly hurricane Laura has battered southern states in the US, killing 14 people.

Ten of the people had died in Louisiana whereas four in Texas.

The storm has now been downgraded to tropical storm status, but several states are still reporting heavy rain.

On the other hand, at least 31 people have died in Haiti, which was earlier hit by storms Marco and Laura.

According to BBC, Winds of up to 150mph (240km/h) caused severe damage, with power cuts to more than half a million homes and a chemical fire from an industrial plant.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has requested federal government for immediate financial assistance. He urged to declare a federal disaster for 23 parishes in Louisiana.

“Hurricane Laura is the fifth strongest storm to make landfall in the United States in recorded history and the first in memory to maintain major hurricane strength as it travelled through Louisiana, bringing catastrophic destruction to many parishes,” Mr Edwards said in a statement.

Speaking at a press conference, he called Laura “the strongest storm to ever hit Louisiana”.

Red Cross stated that around 8,000 homes were devastated in two states.

Nic Hunter, mayor of one of the hardest hit areas – Lake Charles in Louisiana, said it was not clear when electricity and water supplies would be recovered. “If you come back to Lake Charles to stay, make sure you understand the above reality and are prepared to live in it for many days, probably weeks,” he wrote on Facebook.