Storm havoc in Houston: Seven dead, major power outages

Authorities in Houston have reported that at least seven people have died as a result of a wave of storms with hurricane-force winds. Videos showing the destructive power of the element have appeared online. In one of them, you can see the wind breaking windows in a skyscraper. People in the room escape at the last moment.

Strong storms have broken windows in skyscrapers, felled trees, and left nearly a million homes and businesses in the Houston area without power. Since Thursday, storms and hurricanes have been hitting southeastern Texas. The element have struck the state for the second time this month. The death toll has risen to seven.

Storm warnings are now in effect from southern Louisiana to parts of Georgia and Florida. Meteorologists predict that tornadoes may also occur there.

Strong winds have accompanied the storms that have hit Houston, Texas, so far. In gusts, these winds reached speeds of 160 kilometres per hour.

Many videos showing the destructive power of the element have appeared online. In one of them, you can see the wind breaking windows in a skyscraper. People run away in panic. "Get away from the windows!" shouts the person filming.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire, who signed a disaster declaration on Friday, described the damage in the city as significant.

- Whitmire emphasized that we are calling on everyone to stay away from these areas for safety reasons and to allow public works employees to carry out important work.

- For some of the lucky ones, restoring power may take a few days. For many people, however, it will be weeks - explained Lina Hidalgo from the Harris County administration during a press conference.

As Hidalgo explained, the most affected will be the residents of homes and businesses connected to the 10 destroyed steel transmission towers.