Nearly 2 million customers remained without power along the eastern US&nbsp;seaboard on Saturday as residents braced for more flooding in the wake of a powerful storm that killed at least seven people.

The snow and rain ended by Saturday morning but forecasters said the remnants of the storm, known as a nor&#39;easter, would continue to lash the northeastern United States with wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour (80 kph) even as it moved hundreds of miles out to sea.

The high winds were expected to hamper efforts to restore power.

The National Weather Service warned that the next high tide around noon EST (1700 GMT) would bring renewed flooding, with a surge of up to 3 feet (0.9 m) and waves of up to 25 feet, and a warning was in effect for virtually the entire New England coastline.

Bob Thompson, the meteorologist-in-charge at the agency&#39;s Taunton, Massachusetts-based office, said the latest high tide cycle would likely be the last to bring serious flooding.

After several hours of suspended service due to power outages, trains between New York and Washington along Amtrak&#39;s Northeast Corridor resumed at 11 a.m. EST, the passenger railroad said in a statement, although it warned that riders should still expect delays.

The storm brought hurricane-force winds to Boston and nearby shore communities on Friday, sending seawater churning into the streets - the second time the area has been flooded this year.

Gusts of more than 90 mph downed trees and power lines across the region. Falling trees killed seven people, including two boys who died when trees struck their homes, in Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia, according to local media and police.

Private forecasting service AccuWeather said the storm dumped as much as 18 inches (46 cm) of snow on parts of New York state and Pennsylvania. The Massachusetts town of East Bridgewater received nearly 6 inches of rain, the NWS said.

The storm also snarled transportation from the Middle Atlantic into New England, with more than a quarter of flights into and out of New York&#39;s three major airports and Boston&#39;s airport canceled on Friday, tracking service FlightAware.com reported.

The problems carried over into Saturday, with hundreds of flights canceled into and out of New York and Boston, according to the website.

One flight landing at Washington&#39;s Dulles International Airport on Friday experienced turbulence so rough that most passengers became sick and the pilots were on the verge of becoming ill, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Nearly 2 million customers remained without power along the eastern US seaboard on Saturday

Nearly 2 million customers remained without power along the eastern US seaboard on Saturday as residents braced for more flooding in the wake of a powerful storm that killed at least seven people. The snow and rain ended by Saturday morning but forecasters said the remnants of the storm, known as a nor'easter, would continue to lash the northeastern United States with wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour (80 kph) even as it moved hundreds of miles out to sea. The high winds were expected to hamper efforts to restore power. The National Weather Service warned that the next high tide around noon EST (1700 GMT) would bring renewed flooding, with a surge of up to 3 feet (0.9 m) and waves of up to 25 feet, and a warning was in effect for virtually the entire New England coastline. Bob Thompson, the meteorologist-in-charge at the agency's Taunton, Massachusetts-based office, said the latest high tide cycle would likely be the last to bring serious flooding. After several hours of suspended service due to power outages, trains between New York and Washington along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor resumed at 11 a.m. EST, the passenger railroad said in a statement, although it warned that riders should still expect delays. The storm brought hurricane-force winds to Boston and nearby shore communities on Friday, sending seawater churning into the streets - the second time the area has been flooded this year. Gusts of more than 90 mph downed trees and power lines across the region. Falling trees killed seven people, including two boys who died when trees struck their homes, in Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia, according to local media and police. Private forecasting service AccuWeather said the storm dumped as much as 18 inches (46 cm) of snow on parts of New York state and Pennsylvania. The Massachusetts town of East Bridgewater received nearly 6 inches of rain, the NWS said. The storm also snarled transportation from the Middle Atlantic into New England, with more than a quarter of flights into and out of New York's three major airports and Boston's airport canceled on Friday, tracking service FlightAware.com reported. The problems carried over into Saturday, with hundreds of flights canceled into and out of New York and Boston, according to the website. One flight landing at Washington's Dulles International Airport on Friday experienced turbulence so rough that most passengers became sick and the pilots were on the verge of becoming ill, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

US Northeast still facing flooding, outages after killer storm

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-updates-tripura-meghalaya-nagaland-results-today-34524">Live updates: Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-updates-tripura-meghalaya-nagaland-results-today-34524">results</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-updates-tripura-meghalaya-nagaland-results-today-34524"> today</a>

Counting of votes begins for Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya assembly elections. Results are expected by the afternoon. Tripura went to the polls on February 18. Elections in Meghalya and Nagaland were held on February 27.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/central-michigan-university-shooting-gunman-identified-shot-parents-34522">Central Michigan University shooting: Gunman identified, shot parents</a>

A gunman suspected of killing his parents at a Central Michigan University dormitory during a domestic dispute on Friday was still at large, authorities said. According to media reports, 19-year-old James Eric Davis Jr was a sophomore at Michigan University who targeted two people at the University due to personal rivalry.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gauri-lankesh-murder-suspect-taken-to-custody-34521">Gauri Lankesh murder: Suspect taken into custody</a>

The Karnataka Police has taken a suspected accused KT Naveen Kumar into police custody for questioning in connection with the murder of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh. As per media reports, Naveen was caught by the crime wing of the state police&#39;s central crime branch on February 18.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/shoot-a-school-kid-only-29-says-vandalized-vegas-billboard-34525">&#39;Shoot a school kid only $29,&#39; says vandalized Vegas billboard</a>

In yet another demand for the gun reforms on Friday, as an aftermath to Florida High school shooting, a billboard at Las Vegas was vandalised to read, &quot;Shoot a school kid only $29,&quot;. The billboard originally read, &quot;Shoot a .50 caliber only $29.&quot; It was an advertisement for a local firing range called Battlefield Vegas, which, according to its website, is a business owned and operated by veterans that features a &quot;military-style complex&quot; a block from the Las Vegas Strip, as well as additional &quot;outdoor training areas.&quot;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/storm-hits-us-northeast-kills-at-least-five-people-34528">Storm hits US Northeast, kills at least five people</a>

A powerful storm lashing the northeastern United States on Friday killed at least five people as winds topping 80 miles per hour (129 km per hour) helped flood streets in Boston, ground flights and halt train service across the region. Almost 1.7 million homes and businesses were without power in the Northeast and Midwest as the storm pummelled the East Coast from Virginia to Maine. Government offices in Washington closed as winds gusted to more than 60 mph (96 kph) in the U.S. capital.

Live updates: Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland results today Counting of votes begins for Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya assembly elections. Results are expected by the afternoon. Tripura went to the polls on February 18. Elections in Meghalya and Nagaland were held on February 27. Central Michigan University shooting: Gunman identified, shot parents A gunman suspected of killing his parents at a Central Michigan University dormitory during a domestic dispute on Friday was still at large, authorities said. According to media reports, 19-year-old James Eric Davis Jr was a sophomore at Michigan University who targeted two people at the University due to personal rivalry. Gauri Lankesh murder: Suspect taken into custody The Karnataka Police has taken a suspected accused KT Naveen Kumar into police custody for questioning in connection with the murder of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh. As per media reports, Naveen was caught by the crime wing of the state police's central crime branch on February 18. 'Shoot a school kid only $29,' says vandalized Vegas billboard In yet another demand for the gun reforms on Friday, as an aftermath to Florida High school shooting, a billboard at Las Vegas was vandalised to read, "Shoot a school kid only $29,". The billboard originally read, "Shoot a .50 caliber only $29." It was an advertisement for a local firing range called Battlefield Vegas, which, according to its website, is a business owned and operated by veterans that features a "military-style complex" a block from the Las Vegas Strip, as well as additional "outdoor training areas." Storm hits US Northeast, kills at least five people A powerful storm lashing the northeastern United States on Friday killed at least five people as winds topping 80 miles per hour (129 km per hour) helped flood streets in Boston, ground flights and halt train service across the region. Almost 1.7 million homes and businesses were without power in the Northeast and Midwest as the storm pummelled the East Coast from Virginia to Maine. Government offices in Washington closed as winds gusted to more than 60 mph (96 kph) in the U.S. capital.

WION Morning News Brief, March 3, 2018

&nbsp;A powerful storm lashing the northeastern United States on Friday killed at least five people as winds topping 80 miles per hour (129 km per hour) helped flood streets in Boston, ground flights and halt train service across the region.

Almost 1.7 million homes and businesses were without power in the Northeast and Midwest as the storm pummelled the East Coast from Virginia to Maine. Government offices in Washington closed as winds gusted to more than 60 mph (96 kph) in the U.S. capital.

A flood surge at extreme high tide sent seawater into Boston&#39;s coastal streets, the second time this year that the area had flooded. Wind gusts approaching 70 mph (113 kph) helped force in the water while downing trees and power lines.

The high water receded in the afternoon, but the National Weather Service said Boston could face renewed flooding with a near-record high tide forecast around midnight on Friday.

&quot;That one still looks like it&#39;s going to be on target for at least moderate coastal flooding, which means we&#39;re going to see some problems in Boston,&quot; said Jim Hayes, a meteorologist with the agency&#39;s Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.

Snow and rain are forecast to taper off through Friday night and into Saturday as skies clear, Hayes said, adding that winds are also expected to drop somewhat overnight and into Saturday as the offshore storm system recedes.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency, streamlining state aid to communities harmed by high winds.

The storm packed a deadly punch, with a falling tree killing a man in his 70s in Newport, Rhode Island, a police spokesman said.

In Putnam Valley, New York, an 11-year-old boy was killed when a tree crashed into his home, WPIX television reported, citing Putnam County sheriff&#39;s deputies. A spokesman for the sheriff&#39;s department could not be reached for comment.

A 44-year-old male passenger in a truck was killed in James City County, Virginia, when an oak tree toppled onto the vehicle, police said in a statement.

In Chesterfield County, Virginia, a tree fell onto a home and struck a sleeping 6-year-old boy, the county said in a statement. The child died of his injuries at a hospital.

Outside Baltimore, a 77-year-old woman was struck by a falling tree branch at her home near Kingsville, Maryland, a Baltimore County Fire Department spokesman said.

&quot;People need to take this very seriously,&quot; Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker told a Thursday press conference, telling people to prepare for a repeat of the flooding that affected much of state&#39;s east coast during the January 4 &quot;bombogenesis&quot; winter storm.&quot;If you live in an area that is told to evacuate, we strongly encourage you do so first thing Friday morning.&quot;

The National Weather Service had coastal flood watches and warnings in place from southern Maine through coastal North Carolina, including New York&#39;s eastern suburbs, and also warned that a snowstorm heading east from the Ohio Valley could drop significant amounts of snow in northern New York State. It forecast storm surges of up to four feet (1.2 m) for eastern Massachusetts.

Federal offices closed on Friday in Washington D.C. while dozens of schools throughout the region canceled classes.

Ocean-facing homes could be destroyed by the storm surge and waves, while people who live in neighborhoods reached by low-lying roads could be cut off from services for hours or days, officials and government forecasters warned.

&quot;This could be another storm with prolonged onshore flooding,&quot; said Paul Walker, a meteorologist with Accuweather, a private forecasting service. Flooding could begin to pick up around high tide, forecast to occur shortly after 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT) around Boston, he said.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Almost 1.7 million homes and businesses were without power in the Northeast and Midwest as the storm pummelled the East Coast from Virginia to Maine

A powerful storm lashing the northeastern United States on Friday killed at least five people as winds topping 80 miles per hour (129 km per hour) helped flood streets in Boston, ground flights and halt train service across the region. Almost 1.7 million homes and businesses were without power in the Northeast and Midwest as the storm pummelled the East Coast from Virginia to Maine. Government offices in Washington closed as winds gusted to more than 60 mph (96 kph) in the U.S. capital. A flood surge at extreme high tide sent seawater into Boston's coastal streets, the second time this year that the area had flooded. Wind gusts approaching 70 mph (113 kph) helped force in the water while downing trees and power lines. The high water receded in the afternoon, but the National Weather Service said Boston could face renewed flooding with a near-record high tide forecast around midnight on Friday. "That one still looks like it's going to be on target for at least moderate coastal flooding, which means we're going to see some problems in Boston," said Jim Hayes, a meteorologist with the agency's Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland. Snow and rain are forecast to taper off through Friday night and into Saturday as skies clear, Hayes said, adding that winds are also expected to drop somewhat overnight and into Saturday as the offshore storm system recedes. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency, streamlining state aid to communities harmed by high winds. The storm packed a deadly punch, with a falling tree killing a man in his 70s in Newport, Rhode Island, a police spokesman said. In Putnam Valley, New York, an 11-year-old boy was killed when a tree crashed into his home, WPIX television reported, citing Putnam County sheriff's deputies. A spokesman for the sheriff's department could not be reached for comment. A 44-year-old male passenger in a truck was killed in James City County, Virginia, when an oak tree toppled onto the vehicle, police said in a statement. In Chesterfield County, Virginia, a tree fell onto a home and struck a sleeping 6-year-old boy, the county said in a statement. The child died of his injuries at a hospital. Outside Baltimore, a 77-year-old woman was struck by a falling tree branch at her home near Kingsville, Maryland, a Baltimore County Fire Department spokesman said. "People need to take this very seriously," Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker told a Thursday press conference, telling people to prepare for a repeat of the flooding that affected much of state's east coast during the January 4 "bombogenesis" winter storm."If you live in an area that is told to evacuate, we strongly encourage you do so first thing Friday morning." The National Weather Service had coastal flood watches and warnings in place from southern Maine through coastal North Carolina, including New York's eastern suburbs, and also warned that a snowstorm heading east from the Ohio Valley could drop significant amounts of snow in northern New York State. It forecast storm surges of up to four feet (1.2 m) for eastern Massachusetts. Federal offices closed on Friday in Washington D.C. while dozens of schools throughout the region canceled classes. Ocean-facing homes could be destroyed by the storm surge and waves, while people who live in neighborhoods reached by low-lying roads could be cut off from services for hours or days, officials and government forecasters warned. "This could be another storm with prolonged onshore flooding," said Paul Walker, a meteorologist with Accuweather, a private forecasting service. Flooding could begin to pick up around high tide, forecast to occur shortly after 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT) around Boston, he said. (With inputs from Reuters)

Storm hits US Northeast, kills at least five people

A violent winter storm dubbed as&nbsp;a &quot;bomb cyclone&quot; struck onto the US Atlantic coast on Thursday,&nbsp;pushing&nbsp;high tide to&nbsp;near-record&nbsp;levels and stranding inundated motorists on downtown Boston streets.

Three people were found dead in North Carolina after their vehicles ran off snow-covered roads, authorities said.

The worst winter storm in decades forced the cancellation of thousands of flights, closed a number of highways and prompted schools to suspend classes in New York City.

Wind gusts reached 85 kilometres per hour in some areas and temperatures plummeted since the storm made landfall, according to local weather services.

The country&#39;s National Weather Service warned of wind gusts hitting almost 113 kilometres per hour in some places, with nearly 60 million people in the path of the storm.

Blizzard warnings and states of emergency were in wide effect.

The massive storm has also lead to frozen pipes around the area and disrupted services at refineries.&nbsp;

The fuel prices rose as high winds and snowfall caused electricity outages for almost 80,000 homes and businesses.&nbsp;

Prices for heating oil and natural gas in the US&nbsp;Northeast hit their highest levels in years on the back of near-record heating demand.&nbsp;

Meteorologists forecast the harsh weather will continue until Friday, with some places expecting water and power cuts.

The worst winter storm in decades forced the cancellation of thousands of flights, closed a number of highways and prompted schools to suspend classes in New York City

A violent winter storm dubbed as a "bomb cyclone" struck onto the US Atlantic coast on Thursday, pushing high tide to near-record levels and stranding inundated motorists on downtown Boston streets. Three people were found dead in North Carolina after their vehicles ran off snow-covered roads, authorities said. The worst winter storm in decades forced the cancellation of thousands of flights, closed a number of highways and prompted schools to suspend classes in New York City. Wind gusts reached 85 kilometres per hour in some areas and temperatures plummeted since the storm made landfall, according to local weather services. The country's National Weather Service warned of wind gusts hitting almost 113 kilometres per hour in some places, with nearly 60 million people in the path of the storm. Blizzard warnings and states of emergency were in wide effect. The massive storm has also lead to frozen pipes around the area and disrupted services at refineries. The fuel prices rose as high winds and snowfall caused electricity outages for almost 80,000 homes and businesses. Prices for heating oil and natural gas in the US Northeast hit their highest levels in years on the back of near-record heating demand. Meteorologists forecast the harsh weather will continue until Friday, with some places expecting water and power cuts.

3 dead due to violent 'bomb cyclone' in US, several services disrupted

At least 20 people lost their lives and five people were said to be missing after a tropical storm hit Indonesia on Sunday.

A search and rescue operation is underway, the Anadolu Agency quoted the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB), as saying.

The storm, named &quot;Dahlia&quot;, caused flooding and a landslide in eastern Java, the BNPB added.

The officials had warned the residents of possible flooding and landslides even as around 2,000 houses were affected due to the storm in the area.

Earlier on Thursday, reportedly another storm named &quot;Cempaka&quot; had caused the death of 27 people in central Java.&nbsp;

Five people were said to be missing after Storm Dahlia hit Indonesia on Sunday

At least 20 people lost their lives and five people were said to be missing after a tropical storm hit Indonesia on Sunday. A search and rescue operation is underway, the Anadolu Agency quoted the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB), as saying. The storm, named "Dahlia", caused flooding and a landslide in eastern Java, the BNPB added. The officials had warned the residents of possible flooding and landslides even as around 2,000 houses were affected due to the storm in the area. Earlier on Thursday, reportedly another storm named "Cempaka" had caused the death of 27 people in central Java.

Tropical storm kills 20 in Indonesia

People in Victoria have been given warning of floods and thunderstorm by Australia&#39;s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) after heavy rainfall hit the Australian state on Friday.&nbsp;

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A Flood Watch for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Victoria?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Victoria</a> has been updated. Check here for latest warnings and watches: <a href="https://t.co/HLs2UYFQyQ">https://t.co/HLs2UYFQyQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/EUIeLjNrJI">pic.twitter.com/EUIeLjNrJI</a>
&mdash; Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) <a href="https://twitter.com/BOM_Vic/status/936399428247805952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Massive rainfall in Southern part of Australia has left roads blocked and flooded residential areas on Saturday.&nbsp;

According to reports, almost 300 mm of rain and large hailstorms are predicted in the next three days.&nbsp;

Several flights have also been diverted to Sydney and major events have been cancelled in the state, media reports said.

Floodwater started to run quickly downstairs and alleys in Melbourne&#39;s suburb of Ringwood after five minutes of the downpour on Friday afternoon, according to a local resident David Cabler.

The Hume Highway, an inter-city national highway connecting Melbourne to Sydney, was seen submerged in flood waters in a video shared by a Wangaratta florist.

Parts of the Hume Highway have been closed due to the flooding, according to local media. 
&nbsp;

Flash floodwater inundates roads in the Australia's state of Victoria as the rainfalls in part of the state break more than a century old record

People in Victoria have been given warning of floods and thunderstorm by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) after heavy rainfall hit the Australian state on Friday. A Flood Watch for #Victoria has been updated. Check here for latest warnings and watches: https://t.co/HLs2UYFQyQ pic.twitter.com/EUIeLjNrJI — Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) December 1, 2017 × Massive rainfall in Southern part of Australia has left roads blocked and flooded residential areas on Saturday. According to reports, almost 300 mm of rain and large hailstorms are predicted in the next three days. Several flights have also been diverted to Sydney and major events have been cancelled in the state, media reports said. Floodwater started to run quickly downstairs and alleys in Melbourne's suburb of Ringwood after five minutes of the downpour on Friday afternoon, according to a local resident David Cabler. The Hume Highway, an inter-city national highway connecting Melbourne to Sydney, was seen submerged in flood waters in a video shared by a Wangaratta florist. Parts of the Hume Highway have been closed due to the flooding, according to local media.

Record-breaking rainfall triggers flash floods in Australia

The 200 Indian students who were&nbsp;marooned at the University of Houston in the aftermath of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-at-least-3-dead-as-houston-battles-floods-generated-by-hurricane-harvey-19564">Hurricane Harvey</a>&nbsp;are safe, the Indian government informed in a tweet.&nbsp;

Two of the students, however, are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The Consul General of India in Houston Anupam Ray wrote on Twitter that he was with the students and was organising food for them.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj">@SushmaSwaraj</a> Iam with the200 Indian students. They are safe. Organizing food <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneHarvey?src=hash">#HurricaneHarvey</a> <a href="https://t.co/IPJe92XAsS">pic.twitter.com/IPJe92XAsS</a>
&mdash; Anupam Ray (@anupamifs) <a href="https://twitter.com/anupamifs/status/902209691526287360">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Earlier Monday, India&#39;s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had tweeted the news of the students being surrounded by neck deep water. She said the government was ensuring that the relatives of the students in the ICU reached as soon as possible.

The external affairs minister had said&nbsp;that attempts to deliver food to the students had&nbsp;failed since the US Coast Guard did not allow the boats required for the operations.

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@CGHoust has informed me that 200 Indian students at University of Houston are marooned. They are surrounded by neck deep water. /1
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/902115420609511425">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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We made efforts for delivery of food but US Coast Guard did not allow as boats were required for rescue operations. /2
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/902116638320771072">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Mr. Anupam Ray our CG Houston is organising the rescue operations. /3
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/902117112533082112">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Indian students Shalini and Nikhil Bhatia are in ICU. We are ensuring that their relatives reach there at the earliest. /4
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/902118122383015936">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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In the coming days, more rain is expected as Harvey moves inland.

Till now,&nbsp;1,000 people had been rescued as per reports.&nbsp;

This storm is the first major hurricane in the US since 2005 and is also&nbsp;the first major natural disaster under Trump&#39;s presidency. 
&nbsp;

She ensured people in her tweet that their relatives will reach the students as early as possible

The 200 Indian students who were marooned at the University of Houston in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey are safe, the Indian government informed in a tweet. Two of the students, however, are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The Consul General of India in Houston Anupam Ray wrote on Twitter that he was with the students and was organising food for them. @SushmaSwaraj Iam with the200 Indian students. They are safe. Organizing food #HurricaneHarvey pic.twitter.com/IPJe92XAsS — Anupam Ray (@anupamifs) August 28, 2017 × Earlier Monday, India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had tweeted the news of the students being surrounded by neck deep water. She said the government was ensuring that the relatives of the students in the ICU reached as soon as possible. The external affairs minister had said that attempts to deliver food to the students had failed since the US Coast Guard did not allow the boats required for the operations. @CGHoust has informed me that 200 Indian students at University of Houston are marooned. They are surrounded by neck deep water. /1 — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 28, 2017 × We made efforts for delivery of food but US Coast Guard did not allow as boats were required for rescue operations. /2 — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 28, 2017 × Mr. Anupam Ray our CG Houston is organising the rescue operations. /3 — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 28, 2017 × Indian students Shalini and Nikhil Bhatia are in ICU. We are ensuring that their relatives reach there at the earliest. /4 — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 28, 2017 × In the coming days, more rain is expected as Harvey moves inland. Till now, 1,000 people had been rescued as per reports. This storm is the first major hurricane in the US since 2005 and is also the first major natural disaster under Trump's presidency.

200 Indian students stranded in Houston safe: Indian government

US President Donald Trump&nbsp;on Monday&nbsp;declared an emergency in Louisiana as part of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hurricane-harvey-storm-emerges-in-texas-louisiana-19482">the southern state was being pelted with rain from tropical storm Harvey</a>. 
 
The declaration allows the federal government, specifically the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate relief efforts. It also provides federal funding for disaster relief. 
 
&quot;This action will help alleviate the hardship and suffering that the emergency has inflicted on the local population,&quot; the White House said in a statement. 
 
&quot;Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.&quot;

Louisiana was being pelted with rain from tropical storm Harvey

US President Donald Trump on Monday declared an emergency in Louisiana as part of the southern state was being pelted with rain from tropical storm Harvey. The declaration allows the federal government, specifically the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate relief efforts. It also provides federal funding for disaster relief. "This action will help alleviate the hardship and suffering that the emergency has inflicted on the local population," the White House said in a statement. "Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency."

Trump declares emergency in Louisiana for storm Harvey

Oil&nbsp;prices rose on Friday as the US&nbsp;petroleum industry braced for Hurricane Harvey, which may become the biggest storm to hit the US mainland in more than a decade.

Harvey became a category 2 storm as it crossed the Gulf of Mexico with winds of 105 mph (169 kph), 220 miles (355 km) off Corpus Christi, Texas, the National Hurricane Center said.

The hurricane is forecast to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday between Corpus Christi and Houston, both important&nbsp;oil&nbsp;refining centers.

US light crude, also known as West Texas Intermediate or WTI, was up 30 cents at $47.73 a barrel by 1015 GMT. Brent crude was 30 cents higher at $52.34.

Energy companies have pulled workers from offshore&nbsp;oil&nbsp;platforms and halted onshore drilling in south Texas.

Just under 10 percent of offshore US. Gulf of Mexico crude output capacity and nearly 15 percent of natural gas production had been halted by midday on Thursday, government data showed.

&quot;Damage and flooding to refineries and shale fields, disrupted production in the Gulf of Mexico and infrastructure damage is unlikely to be bearish for WTI,&quot; said Jeffrey Halley, market analyst at brokerage OANDA.

US gasoline prices have risen almost 10 percent since Wednesday to a high of $1.74 a gallon, their loftiest since April as refiners shut down in preparation for the storm.

The Port of Corpus Christi, Texas, was closed to vessel traffic, a spokeswoman for the city&#39;s Port Authority said.

Oil&nbsp;refineries in the city run by Citgo Petroleum, Valero Energy Corp, and Flint Hills Resources also began shutting down.

Beyond the storm&#39;s potential impact on the&nbsp;oil&nbsp;industry, crude remains in ample supply globally despite efforts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to hold back production in order to prop up prices.

OPEC, together with non-OPEC producers including Russia, has pledged to cut output by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) this year and in the first quarter of 2018. But not all producers have kept to their pledges and supplies remain high.

A joint OPEC, non-OPEC monitoring ministerial committee said on Thursday that an extension to the supply-cut pact beyond March was possible, though not yet decided.

Part of the reason for the crude glut has been rising U.S. production, which has jumped by 13 percent since mid-2016 to 9.53 million bpd, close to its 9.61 million bpd record from June 2015.

Harvey became a category 2 storm as it crossed the Gulf of Mexico with winds of 105 mph (169 kph), 220 miles (355 km) off Corpus Christi, Texas

Oil prices rose on Friday as the US petroleum industry braced for Hurricane Harvey, which may become the biggest storm to hit the US mainland in more than a decade. Harvey became a category 2 storm as it crossed the Gulf of Mexico with winds of 105 mph (169 kph), 220 miles (355 km) off Corpus Christi, Texas, the National Hurricane Center said. The hurricane is forecast to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday between Corpus Christi and Houston, both important oil refining centers. US light crude, also known as West Texas Intermediate or WTI, was up 30 cents at $47.73 a barrel by 1015 GMT. Brent crude was 30 cents higher at $52.34. Energy companies have pulled workers from offshore oil platforms and halted onshore drilling in south Texas. Just under 10 percent of offshore US. Gulf of Mexico crude output capacity and nearly 15 percent of natural gas production had been halted by midday on Thursday, government data showed. "Damage and flooding to refineries and shale fields, disrupted production in the Gulf of Mexico and infrastructure damage is unlikely to be bearish for WTI," said Jeffrey Halley, market analyst at brokerage OANDA. US gasoline prices have risen almost 10 percent since Wednesday to a high of $1.74 a gallon, their loftiest since April as refiners shut down in preparation for the storm. The Port of Corpus Christi, Texas, was closed to vessel traffic, a spokeswoman for the city's Port Authority said. Oil refineries in the city run by Citgo Petroleum, Valero Energy Corp, and Flint Hills Resources also began shutting down. Beyond the storm's potential impact on the oil industry, crude remains in ample supply globally despite efforts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to hold back production in order to prop up prices. OPEC, together with non-OPEC producers including Russia, has pledged to cut output by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) this year and in the first quarter of 2018. But not all producers have kept to their pledges and supplies remain high. A joint OPEC, non-OPEC monitoring ministerial committee said on Thursday that an extension to the supply-cut pact beyond March was possible, though not yet decided. Part of the reason for the crude glut has been rising U.S. production, which has jumped by 13 percent since mid-2016 to 9.53 million bpd, close to its 9.61 million bpd record from June 2015.

Hurricane Harvey hits US mainland, oil prices increase

Chaos and confusion gripped Macau on Thursday after one of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/typhoon-hits-hong-kong-south-china-3-people-killed-34-injured-19372">strongest&nbsp;typhoons on record hit the territory</a>, killing at least nine people, and leaving more than half the city still without water and power, and casinos relying on backup generators.

Rescuers on Thursday searched <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/typhoon-hato-leaves-16-dead-after-lashing-macau-hong-kong-19405">submerged cars for trapped people</a> in the former Portuguese territory, while overwhelmed emergency services scrambled to respond to crisis calls.

Many residents and tourists complained that the government was woefully unprepared for Typhoon&nbsp;Hato&nbsp;and its destructive winds of more than 200 kph (124 mph).

Macau&#39;s government broadcaster TDM said&nbsp;Typhoon&nbsp;Hato, a maximum signal 10 storm, was the strongest since 1968 to hit the world&#39;s biggest gambling hub and home to around 600,000 people.

&quot;The city looks like it was just in a war,&quot; said one civil servant, who declined to be named as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Hato on Wednesday hit the nearby financial hub of Hong Kong, uprooting trees, flooding streets, forcing hundreds of airline flights to be canceled and halting financial trading. There were reports of 34 people injured in Hong Kong, which had not been hit by a signal 10&nbsp;typhoon&nbsp;for five years.

At one stage as&nbsp;Hato&nbsp;intensified, Hong Kong posted a signal 8 storm warning, saying it was likely to go higher, yet Macau&#39;s government rated&nbsp;Hato&nbsp;only a signal 3&nbsp;typhoon.

&quot;I am shocked with the late notice and lack of preparation that was given for this superstorm. Residents are in peril and unable to assess if help is on the way,&quot; said Ashley Sutherland-Winch, a marketing consultant in Macau.

Exteriors of buildings, including parts of multi-billion dollar casinos, were ripped away by&nbsp;Hato&#39;s powerful winds.

Video footage from Macau residents sent to Reuters showed a man struggling to keep his head above water in an enclosed car park filled with debris, while another showed a large truck toppling over and pedestrians flung across pavements. Reuters could not independently verify the footage.

While most of Macau&#39;s large casinos, especially those operating on the Las Vegas style Cotai strip, were trying to operate as normal, many were relying on backup generators.

Casino stocks listed in Hong Kong fell versus a rise in the benchmark Hang Seng Index on Thursday with the full impact on gambling revenues and economic cost still unknown, analysts said.

Nolan Ledarney, director of Crafted 852, a food website in Hong Kong, who was staying inside Galaxy&#39;s casino resort with his wife and three children said guests had been corralled into safe areas.

Severe flooding overwhelmed Macau, which is in the process of building new infrastructure such as a light rail, to cope with a surge in visitors.

Macau has rapidly transformed from a sleepy fishing village over a decade ago into a major gambling hub, although infrastructure has mostly failed to keep pace with its development.

Transportation remained in chaos with damage to both of Macau&#39;s ferry terminals and roads crammed with traffic. Schools, museums, and public venues remained closed on Thursday.

&quot;The government cannot handle the challenge as the people would expect from a self-claimed first class city,&quot; said Macau resident and political commentator Larry So.

Hato&nbsp;had been downgraded to a tropical storm on Thursday and was about 680 km (422 miles) west of Hong Kong and expected to weaken further as it moves inland over China.

Macau's government broadcaster TDM said Typhoon Hato, a maximum signal 10 storm, was the strongest since 1968 to hit the world's biggest gambling hub and home to around 600,000 people

Chaos and confusion gripped Macau on Thursday after one of the strongest typhoons on record hit the territory, killing at least nine people, and leaving more than half the city still without water and power, and casinos relying on backup generators. Rescuers on Thursday searched submerged cars for trapped people in the former Portuguese territory, while overwhelmed emergency services scrambled to respond to crisis calls. Many residents and tourists complained that the government was woefully unprepared for Typhoon Hato and its destructive winds of more than 200 kph (124 mph). Macau's government broadcaster TDM said Typhoon Hato, a maximum signal 10 storm, was the strongest since 1968 to hit the world's biggest gambling hub and home to around 600,000 people. "The city looks like it was just in a war," said one civil servant, who declined to be named as they were not authorized to speak to the media. Hato on Wednesday hit the nearby financial hub of Hong Kong, uprooting trees, flooding streets, forcing hundreds of airline flights to be canceled and halting financial trading. There were reports of 34 people injured in Hong Kong, which had not been hit by a signal 10 typhoon for five years. At one stage as Hato intensified, Hong Kong posted a signal 8 storm warning, saying it was likely to go higher, yet Macau's government rated Hato only a signal 3 typhoon. "I am shocked with the late notice and lack of preparation that was given for this superstorm. Residents are in peril and unable to assess if help is on the way," said Ashley Sutherland-Winch, a marketing consultant in Macau. Exteriors of buildings, including parts of multi-billion dollar casinos, were ripped away by Hato's powerful winds. Video footage from Macau residents sent to Reuters showed a man struggling to keep his head above water in an enclosed car park filled with debris, while another showed a large truck toppling over and pedestrians flung across pavements. Reuters could not independently verify the footage. While most of Macau's large casinos, especially those operating on the Las Vegas style Cotai strip, were trying to operate as normal, many were relying on backup generators. Casino stocks listed in Hong Kong fell versus a rise in the benchmark Hang Seng Index on Thursday with the full impact on gambling revenues and economic cost still unknown, analysts said. Nolan Ledarney, director of Crafted 852, a food website in Hong Kong, who was staying inside Galaxy's casino resort with his wife and three children said guests had been corralled into safe areas. Severe flooding overwhelmed Macau, which is in the process of building new infrastructure such as a light rail, to cope with a surge in visitors. Macau has rapidly transformed from a sleepy fishing village over a decade ago into a major gambling hub, although infrastructure has mostly failed to keep pace with its development. Transportation remained in chaos with damage to both of Macau's ferry terminals and roads crammed with traffic. Schools, museums, and public venues remained closed on Thursday. "The government cannot handle the challenge as the people would expect from a self-claimed first class city," said Macau resident and political commentator Larry So. Hato had been downgraded to a tropical storm on Thursday and was about 680 km (422 miles) west of Hong Kong and expected to weaken further as it moves inland over China.

Typhoon Hato hits Macau, residents without power, water

Typhoon&nbsp;Hato, a maximum category 10 storm, slammed into Hong Kong on Wednesday lashing the Asian financial hub with wind and rain that uprooted trees and forced most businesses to close, while in some places big waves flooded seaside streets.

There were reports of 34 people injured in Hong Kong while in the city of Macau, across the Pearl River estuary, three people were killed, authorities there said.&nbsp;In Hong Kong, more than 450 flights were cancelled, financial markets suspended and schools closed as Hato bore down, the first category 10 storm to hit the city since 2012.

&quot;I&#39;ve never seen one like this,&quot; Garrett Quigley, a longtime resident of Lantau island to the west of the city, said of the storm.&nbsp;&quot;Cars are half submerged and roads are impassable with flooding and huge trees down. It&#39;s crazy.&quot;

Many skyscrapers in the heart of Hong Kong were empty and dark as office workers stayed at home.&nbsp;Hato churned up Hong Kong&#39;s Victoria Harbour and triggered large swells and big waves on some of the city&#39;s most popular beaches, with serious flooding in low-lying areas.

In residential districts like Heng Fa Chuen on densely populated Hong Kong island, waves smashed against the sides of oceanfront buildings and surged over a promenade, swamping roads and vehicles parked nearby.

Construction cranes swayed at the tops of skyscrapers, windows imploded and nearly 200 trees were uprooted, while some people used canoes to venture out into flooded streets.&nbsp;Authorities downgraded the storm to a category eight by mid-afternoon.

The storm also caused a power blackout across most of the gambling hub of Macau for about two hours, residents said, with disruption to mobile phone and internet networks.&nbsp;The former Portuguese colony&#39;s casinos, however, had backup power, two casino executives told Reuters.

The storm also made landfall in China&#39;s Guangdong province, in Zhuhai city adjacent to Macau, China&#39;s Xinhua state news agency.&nbsp;Numerous flights and trains were cancelled in Guangdong province, with Shenzhen&#39;s International Airport particularly badly hit.

Thousands of residents along the Chinese coast were evacuated and fishing vessels were called back to port.&nbsp;Maximum winds near Hato&#39;s centre were recorded at a destructive 155 kph (95 mph).

A senior scientific officer for the Hong Kong observatory warned that sea levels could rise several metres in some places, with the government issuing flood alerts and opening 27 shelters across the city.&nbsp;Trading in Hong Kong&#39;s financial markets was halted for the day, the stock exchange said.Typhoon&nbsp;Nida in August last year was the last storm to close the exchange for the whole day.

The city&#39;s flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific, and Hong Kong Airlines said the majority of their flights to and from Hong Kong between 2200 GMT Tuesday and 0900 GMT Wednesday would be cancelled.

Other transport services, including ferries to the gaming hub of Macau and outlying islands in Hong Kong, were suspended.

In Hong Kong, more than 450 flights were cancelled, financial markets suspended and schools closed as Hato bore down, the first category 10 storm to hit the city since 2012

Typhoon Hato, a maximum category 10 storm, slammed into Hong Kong on Wednesday lashing the Asian financial hub with wind and rain that uprooted trees and forced most businesses to close, while in some places big waves flooded seaside streets. There were reports of 34 people injured in Hong Kong while in the city of Macau, across the Pearl River estuary, three people were killed, authorities there said. In Hong Kong, more than 450 flights were cancelled, financial markets suspended and schools closed as Hato bore down, the first category 10 storm to hit the city since 2012. "I've never seen one like this," Garrett Quigley, a longtime resident of Lantau island to the west of the city, said of the storm. "Cars are half submerged and roads are impassable with flooding and huge trees down. It's crazy." Many skyscrapers in the heart of Hong Kong were empty and dark as office workers stayed at home. Hato churned up Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour and triggered large swells and big waves on some of the city's most popular beaches, with serious flooding in low-lying areas. In residential districts like Heng Fa Chuen on densely populated Hong Kong island, waves smashed against the sides of oceanfront buildings and surged over a promenade, swamping roads and vehicles parked nearby. Construction cranes swayed at the tops of skyscrapers, windows imploded and nearly 200 trees were uprooted, while some people used canoes to venture out into flooded streets. Authorities downgraded the storm to a category eight by mid-afternoon. The storm also caused a power blackout across most of the gambling hub of Macau for about two hours, residents said, with disruption to mobile phone and internet networks. The former Portuguese colony's casinos, however, had backup power, two casino executives told Reuters. The storm also made landfall in China's Guangdong province, in Zhuhai city adjacent to Macau, China's Xinhua state news agency. Numerous flights and trains were cancelled in Guangdong province, with Shenzhen's International Airport particularly badly hit. Thousands of residents along the Chinese coast were evacuated and fishing vessels were called back to port. Maximum winds near Hato's centre were recorded at a destructive 155 kph (95 mph). A senior scientific officer for the Hong Kong observatory warned that sea levels could rise several metres in some places, with the government issuing flood alerts and opening 27 shelters across the city. Trading in Hong Kong's financial markets was halted for the day, the stock exchange said.Typhoon Nida in August last year was the last storm to close the exchange for the whole day. The city's flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific, and Hong Kong Airlines said the majority of their flights to and from Hong Kong between 2200 GMT Tuesday and 0900 GMT Wednesday would be cancelled. Other transport services, including ferries to the gaming hub of Macau and outlying islands in Hong Kong, were suspended.

WATCH: Typhoon Hato hits Hong Kong, South China, 3 people killed

Hurricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in almost a decade, powered toward the Bahamas and Florida&#39;s eastern coast early on Wednesday after battering Haiti and Cuba with torrential rains and killing at least 17 people.

The hurricane, which the United Nations said created the worst humanitarian crisis to hit struggling Haiti since a devastating 2010 earthquake, whipped Cuba and Haiti with 140 mile-per-hour (230 kph) winds on Tuesday, pummeling towns, farmland and resorts.

In the United States, millions of people were urged to evacuate the southeastern coast and Florida Governor Rick Scott warned residents to prepare for a possible direct hit that could be catastrophic.

Hundreds of thousands of people had been evacuated from the path of the Matthew, which caused severe flooding and killed four people in the Dominican Republic as well as at least 13 in Haiti, the two countries that share the island of Hispaniola.

The storm carved a path of devastation through western Haiti, destroying houses, dumping boats and debris on coastal roads and heavily flooding residential areas.

Matthew was a Category Four hurricane through Tuesday but was downgraded to Category Three early on Wednesday, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Maximum sustained winds eased to about 120 mph (193 kph) by late Wednesday morning but the NHC said the hurricane was likely to strengthen again slightly in the coming days.

The eye of the storm was about 105 miles (169 km) south of Long Island in the Bahamas on Wednesday morning and it was expected to be very near the east coast of Florida by Thursday evening, the NHC said.

&quot;Everyone in our state must prepare now for a direct hit,&quot; Scott said at a news conference in Tallahassee. &quot;If Matthew directly impacts Florida, the destruction could be catastrophic and you need to be prepared.&quot;

It was difficult to assess the severity of Matthew&#39;s impact in Haiti because it knocked out communications in many of the worst-affected areas, including the main bridge that links much of the country to the southwest peninsula.

Impoverished Haiti was a particular concern because tens of thousands of people still are living in tents and makeshift dwellings due to the 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people.

DEADLY TREES

Authorities said on Wednesday five people in Haiti were crushed by trees and six were swept away by swollen rivers.

&quot;More than 1,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed by the flood waters and violent winds,&quot; said Ernst Ais, the mayor of the town of Cavaillon, near Les Cayes. He said a mother and three children died in floodwaters in his town.

Three men were killed in Leogane, near Port-au-Prince, when a coconut palm fell on their home, the mayor there said.

Mourad Wahba, the UN&nbsp;secretary-general&#39;s deputy special representative for Haiti, said much of the population had been displaced by Matthew and at least 10,000 were in shelter.

&quot;Haiti is facing the largest humanitarian event witnessed since the earthquake six years ago,&quot; he said.

Heifer International, a nonprofit organization working with farming families in Haiti, said farmland and businesses caught in Matthew&#39;s path had been devastated.

The US&nbsp;government said it was ready to help the afflicted and about 300 U.S. Marines set off on the USS Mesa Verde to provide disaster relief in Haiti, the Marines said in a tweet.

There were no immediate reports of deaths, casualties or major damage in Cuba, where the government emphasized hurricane preparation. But Matthew did thrash the tourist town of Baracoa in the province of Guantanamo, gutting many houses and dumping hunks of cement, wooden beams, roof tiles and fallen electrical lines on the streets.

The storm passed close to the disputed U.S. Naval base and military prison, and was on track to mow over the central and northwestern Bahamas, the NHC forecasts showed.

Santiago de Cuba, the second-largest city, which lies in the southeast of Cuba, was not badly hit, state media said.

Officials in the Bahamas urged residents to evacuate to higher ground and the Ministry for Grand Bahama said on Facebook that government offices in New Providence and Grand Bahama were closed until further notice.

Hurricane and tropical storm warnings were extended along the east coast of Florida as the storm moved north.

South Carolina Governor Nikkei Haley on Tuesday declared a state of emergency&nbsp;and ordered the evacuation of more than 1 million people from Wednesday afternoon.

Tropical storm or hurricane conditions could affect parts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina later this week, even if the center of Matthew remained offshore, the NHC said. Scott told residents to brace for tornadoes, strong winds, rip currents and flooding and urged those along the state&#39;s eastern coast to make plans to evacuate.

(Reuters)

The storm destroyed houses, dumping boats and debris on coastal roads and heavily flooding residential areas in western Haiti

Hurricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in almost a decade, powered toward the Bahamas and Florida's eastern coast early on Wednesday after battering Haiti and Cuba with torrential rains and killing at least 17 people. The hurricane, which the United Nations said created the worst humanitarian crisis to hit struggling Haiti since a devastating 2010 earthquake, whipped Cuba and Haiti with 140 mile-per-hour (230 kph) winds on Tuesday, pummeling towns, farmland and resorts. In the United States, millions of people were urged to evacuate the southeastern coast and Florida Governor Rick Scott warned residents to prepare for a possible direct hit that could be catastrophic. Hundreds of thousands of people had been evacuated from the path of the Matthew, which caused severe flooding and killed four people in the Dominican Republic as well as at least 13 in Haiti, the two countries that share the island of Hispaniola. The storm carved a path of devastation through western Haiti, destroying houses, dumping boats and debris on coastal roads and heavily flooding residential areas. Matthew was a Category Four hurricane through Tuesday but was downgraded to Category Three early on Wednesday, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Maximum sustained winds eased to about 120 mph (193 kph) by late Wednesday morning but the NHC said the hurricane was likely to strengthen again slightly in the coming days. The eye of the storm was about 105 miles (169 km) south of Long Island in the Bahamas on Wednesday morning and it was expected to be very near the east coast of Florida by Thursday evening, the NHC said. "Everyone in our state must prepare now for a direct hit," Scott said at a news conference in Tallahassee. "If Matthew directly impacts Florida, the destruction could be catastrophic and you need to be prepared." It was difficult to assess the severity of Matthew's impact in Haiti because it knocked out communications in many of the worst-affected areas, including the main bridge that links much of the country to the southwest peninsula. Impoverished Haiti was a particular concern because tens of thousands of people still are living in tents and makeshift dwellings due to the 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people. DEADLY TREES Authorities said on Wednesday five people in Haiti were crushed by trees and six were swept away by swollen rivers. "More than 1,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed by the flood waters and violent winds," said Ernst Ais, the mayor of the town of Cavaillon, near Les Cayes. He said a mother and three children died in floodwaters in his town. Three men were killed in Leogane, near Port-au-Prince, when a coconut palm fell on their home, the mayor there said. Mourad Wahba, the UN secretary-general's deputy special representative for Haiti, said much of the population had been displaced by Matthew and at least 10,000 were in shelter. "Haiti is facing the largest humanitarian event witnessed since the earthquake six years ago," he said. Heifer International, a nonprofit organization working with farming families in Haiti, said farmland and businesses caught in Matthew's path had been devastated. The US government said it was ready to help the afflicted and about 300 U.S. Marines set off on the USS Mesa Verde to provide disaster relief in Haiti, the Marines said in a tweet. There were no immediate reports of deaths, casualties or major damage in Cuba, where the government emphasized hurricane preparation. But Matthew did thrash the tourist town of Baracoa in the province of Guantanamo, gutting many houses and dumping hunks of cement, wooden beams, roof tiles and fallen electrical lines on the streets. The storm passed close to the disputed U.S. Naval base and military prison, and was on track to mow over the central and northwestern Bahamas, the NHC forecasts showed. Santiago de Cuba, the second-largest city, which lies in the southeast of Cuba, was not badly hit, state media said. Officials in the Bahamas urged residents to evacuate to higher ground and the Ministry for Grand Bahama said on Facebook that government offices in New Providence and Grand Bahama were closed until further notice. Hurricane and tropical storm warnings were extended along the east coast of Florida as the storm moved north. South Carolina Governor Nikkei Haley on Tuesday declared a state of emergency and ordered the evacuation of more than 1 million people from Wednesday afternoon. Tropical storm or hurricane conditions could affect parts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina later this week, even if the center of Matthew remained offshore, the NHC said. Scott told residents to brace for tornadoes, strong winds, rip currents and flooding and urged those along the state's eastern coast to make plans to evacuate. (Reuters)

Hurricane Matthew kills at least 17

Hurricane Matthew pummeled Haiti and moved on to Cuba after killing seven people, unleashing floods and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee the Caribbean&#39;s worst storm in nearly a decade.

Far to the north, the first evacuations were ordered in the United States as coastal dwellers prepared to flee the approaching monster storm, expected off the East Coast later this week.

The death toll stood at seven, three in Haiti and four in the Dominican Republic, but was certain to rise as dangerous Matthew bruised its way north.

The full scope of the damage, both human and material, remained unclear. Civil protection officials in Haiti said they were struggling to communicate with the south after Matthew&#39;s furious wind and rain blew down telephone lines.

The collapse of a bridge cut off the only road linking Port-au-Prince to the peninsula that makes up southern Haiti.

&quot;It&#39;s going to be difficult to find an alternative route,&quot; civil protection spokesman Edgar Celestin told AFP.

Next in line, Cuba was hit late in the afternoon on its eastern tip.

The storm&#39;s eye made landfall around 0000 GMT, moving toward the north near 15 kilometers (nine miles) per hour, the US National Hurricane Center said.

Americans girded for a taste of nature&#39;s fury. South Carolina said it would start evacuating 1.1 million people from its coast starting Wednesday and try to get them at least 160 kilometers inland. Georgia declared a state of emergency in 13 counties.

&quot;It&#39;s not going to be a fast evacuation. It could take up to several hours,&quot; South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said. &quot;If you can leave early, do that.&quot;

&#39;Extremely dangerous&#39;&nbsp;

Matthew made landfall in Haiti shortly after daybreak as an &quot;extremely dangerous&quot; Category Four storm, the maximum is five, near the southwestern town of Les Anglais, packing top winds of around 230 kilometers per hour, the US National Hurricane Center said.

It marked the first time in 52 years that a Category Four storm made landfall in Haiti.

Even before making landfall along the southern edge of a jagged peninsula on Hispaniola, the island that Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic, Matthew was blamed for at least three deaths in Haiti, with fears that the toll could climb.&nbsp;

Four more deaths were reported later in the Dominican Republic, where officials said 200 homes were damaged.

After Cuba, the storm is expected to hit the Bahamas late Tuesday or Wednesday.

It was forecast to dump 38 to 63 centimeters (15 to 25 inches) of rain over southern Haiti with up to a meter possible in isolated areas&nbsp;and has been blamed for triggering mudslides.

The key port of Les Cayes, the country&#39;s third city is &quot;very seriously damaged&quot;, said Hervil Cherubin, Haiti director for the aid group Heifer International. &quot;Most roofs of houses, shops, gas stations are all gone.&quot;

&quot;Businesses near the ocean have totally disappeared, washed away,&quot; he added, with farms &quot;disappeared&quot; and livestock killed.

The country is home to almost 11 million people, many living in fragile housing.

Thousands are still living in tents in Haiti after the country&#39;s massive earthquake in 2010. Erosion is especially dangerous because of high mountains and a lack of trees and bushes in areas where they have been cut for fuel.

More than 9,000 Haitians were evacuated to temporary shelters at area schools and churches, the Interior Ministry said.

But civil protection forces have struggled with locals who refused to leave some of the most vulnerable areas, where residents face serious flooding risks.

Schools will remain closed until Monday, but the authorities have not said whether long-delayed presidential and legislative elections scheduled for Sunday will still take place.

First deluge, then mudslides&nbsp;

Matthew already holds the longevity record for a Category Four and Five hurricane in the Caribbean, according to meteorologist Philip Klotzbach of the Colorado State University.

It is expected to move past Cuba during the night.

Officials reported significant flooding and waves up to five meters (16 feet) in coastal villages in the east -- but no casualties so far.

The authorities evacuated some 1.3 million people.

One stalwart who stayed, 63-year-old Roberto Gates, ventured out to buy rum. &quot;I have food for today and tomorrow, and then we&#39;ll see,&quot; he said.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) dispatched an elite disaster response team to the Bahamas, Haiti and Jamaica.

It is also sending some $400,000 in assistance to aid groups in Haiti and Jamaica and emergency relief supplies including blankets, plastic sheeting and water containers. &nbsp;

The Pentagon said 700 family members were evacuated over the weekend to Florida from the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, on Cuba&#39;s eastern tip.

Forecasters predict the hurricane could hit the US East Coast around midweek. Florida, South Carolina and parts of North Carolina have also declared states of emergency.

President Barack Obama postponed a trip to South Florida, where he had planned to attend a campaign event in support of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

&quot;If #Matthew directly impacts FL there will be massive destruction that we haven&#39;t seen in years,&quot; Florida Governor Rick Scott said on Twitter.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The death toll stood at seven, three in Haiti and four in the Dominican Republic, but was certain to rise as Matthew bruised its way north

Hurricane Matthew pummeled Haiti and moved on to Cuba after killing seven people, unleashing floods and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee the Caribbean's worst storm in nearly a decade. Far to the north, the first evacuations were ordered in the United States as coastal dwellers prepared to flee the approaching monster storm, expected off the East Coast later this week. The death toll stood at seven, three in Haiti and four in the Dominican Republic, but was certain to rise as dangerous Matthew bruised its way north. The full scope of the damage, both human and material, remained unclear. Civil protection officials in Haiti said they were struggling to communicate with the south after Matthew's furious wind and rain blew down telephone lines. The collapse of a bridge cut off the only road linking Port-au-Prince to the peninsula that makes up southern Haiti. "It's going to be difficult to find an alternative route," civil protection spokesman Edgar Celestin told AFP. Next in line, Cuba was hit late in the afternoon on its eastern tip. The storm's eye made landfall around 0000 GMT, moving toward the north near 15 kilometers (nine miles) per hour, the US National Hurricane Center said. Americans girded for a taste of nature's fury. South Carolina said it would start evacuating 1.1 million people from its coast starting Wednesday and try to get them at least 160 kilometers inland. Georgia declared a state of emergency in 13 counties. "It's not going to be a fast evacuation. It could take up to several hours," South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said. "If you can leave early, do that." 'Extremely dangerous' Matthew made landfall in Haiti shortly after daybreak as an "extremely dangerous" Category Four storm, the maximum is five, near the southwestern town of Les Anglais, packing top winds of around 230 kilometers per hour, the US National Hurricane Center said. It marked the first time in 52 years that a Category Four storm made landfall in Haiti. Even before making landfall along the southern edge of a jagged peninsula on Hispaniola, the island that Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic, Matthew was blamed for at least three deaths in Haiti, with fears that the toll could climb. Four more deaths were reported later in the Dominican Republic, where officials said 200 homes were damaged. After Cuba, the storm is expected to hit the Bahamas late Tuesday or Wednesday. It was forecast to dump 38 to 63 centimeters (15 to 25 inches) of rain over southern Haiti with up to a meter possible in isolated areas and has been blamed for triggering mudslides. The key port of Les Cayes, the country's third city is "very seriously damaged", said Hervil Cherubin, Haiti director for the aid group Heifer International. "Most roofs of houses, shops, gas stations are all gone." "Businesses near the ocean have totally disappeared, washed away," he added, with farms "disappeared" and livestock killed. The country is home to almost 11 million people, many living in fragile housing. Thousands are still living in tents in Haiti after the country's massive earthquake in 2010. Erosion is especially dangerous because of high mountains and a lack of trees and bushes in areas where they have been cut for fuel. More than 9,000 Haitians were evacuated to temporary shelters at area schools and churches, the Interior Ministry said. But civil protection forces have struggled with locals who refused to leave some of the most vulnerable areas, where residents face serious flooding risks. Schools will remain closed until Monday, but the authorities have not said whether long-delayed presidential and legislative elections scheduled for Sunday will still take place. First deluge, then mudslides Matthew already holds the longevity record for a Category Four and Five hurricane in the Caribbean, according to meteorologist Philip Klotzbach of the Colorado State University. It is expected to move past Cuba during the night. Officials reported significant flooding and waves up to five meters (16 feet) in coastal villages in the east -- but no casualties so far. The authorities evacuated some 1.3 million people. One stalwart who stayed, 63-year-old Roberto Gates, ventured out to buy rum. "I have food for today and tomorrow, and then we'll see," he said. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) dispatched an elite disaster response team to the Bahamas, Haiti and Jamaica. It is also sending some $400,000 in assistance to aid groups in Haiti and Jamaica and emergency relief supplies including blankets, plastic sheeting and water containers. The Pentagon said 700 family members were evacuated over the weekend to Florida from the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, on Cuba's eastern tip. Forecasters predict the hurricane could hit the US East Coast around midweek. Florida, South Carolina and parts of North Carolina have also declared states of emergency. President Barack Obama postponed a trip to South Florida, where he had planned to attend a campaign event in support of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. "If #Matthew directly impacts FL there will be massive destruction that we haven't seen in years," Florida Governor Rick Scott said on Twitter. (AFP)

Hurricane Matthew pummels Haiti and Cuba, evacuations ordered in US

Strong winds and heavy rainfall are&nbsp;expected across the southeastern US&nbsp;on Tuesday even as the centre of Tropical Storm Colin is moving into the Atlantic Ocean.

The storm was 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Charleston, South Carolina, at 4 am&nbsp;eastern time (0800 GMT) and moving at 31 mph, the US&nbsp;National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

A tropical storm warning is in effect from the Altamaha Sound Georgia to Oregon Inlet in North Carolina on Tuesday morning. On its forecast path, Colin is to barrel along the coast of the southeastern United States before moving out to sea during the day.

As 50 mph winds are expected in the region, a tornado was reported in Lee County Florida, the National Weather Service said. The storm is forecast to&nbsp;dump as much as 1 to 3 inches&nbsp;of rain as flash flood warnings and watches are in effect across the region, the hurricane centre said.

Florida Governor Rick Scott, who&nbsp;declared a state of emergency on Monday in 34 of the state&#39;s 67 counties, said more than 6,000 Florida National Guard members were activated and ready for deployment.

Flooding and property damage resulting from the fierce winds remain&nbsp;threats into the day, and far beyond the storm&#39;s immediate path, forecasters have warned.

A statement from Scott&#39;s office warned residents to be wary of rip currents and the possibility of 10 foot (3 m) waves along the Gulf Coast.

&quot;It is critical that all Floridians use caution and remain alert,&quot; he said in the statement.

In the St&nbsp;Petersburg beach town of Gulfport and in Charleston, South Carolina, roads were flooded, local authorities said on social media.

About 10,000 customers were without power in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, utilities reported.

Colin is part of a brisk start to the Atlantic hurricane season that runs through November&nbsp;30. Over the US&nbsp;Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Carolinas were lashed by heavy rain and winds from Tropical Storm Bonnie.

Tropical storm Colin is expected to damage property and crops, apart from disrupting normal life.

Strong winds and heavy rainfall are expected across the southeastern US on Tuesday even as the centre of Tropical Storm Colin is moving into the Atlantic Ocean. The storm was 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Charleston, South Carolina, at 4 am eastern time (0800 GMT) and moving at 31 mph, the US National Hurricane Center in Miami said. A tropical storm warning is in effect from the Altamaha Sound Georgia to Oregon Inlet in North Carolina on Tuesday morning. On its forecast path, Colin is to barrel along the coast of the southeastern United States before moving out to sea during the day. As 50 mph winds are expected in the region, a tornado was reported in Lee County Florida, the National Weather Service said. The storm is forecast to dump as much as 1 to 3 inches of rain as flash flood warnings and watches are in effect across the region, the hurricane centre said. Florida Governor Rick Scott, who declared a state of emergency on Monday in 34 of the state's 67 counties, said more than 6,000 Florida National Guard members were activated and ready for deployment. Flooding and property damage resulting from the fierce winds remain threats into the day, and far beyond the storm's immediate path, forecasters have warned. A statement from Scott's office warned residents to be wary of rip currents and the possibility of 10 foot (3 m) waves along the Gulf Coast. "It is critical that all Floridians use caution and remain alert," he said in the statement. In the St Petersburg beach town of Gulfport and in Charleston, South Carolina, roads were flooded, local authorities said on social media. About 10,000 customers were without power in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, utilities reported. Colin is part of a brisk start to the Atlantic hurricane season that runs through November 30. Over the US Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Carolinas were lashed by heavy rain and winds from Tropical Storm Bonnie.

Heavy rain with strong wind, to lash southeast US as storm moves into Atlantic

Giant waves, cyclone-strength winds and torrential rain swept three people to their deaths on&nbsp;Australia&#39;s east coast on Monday after the&nbsp;storm&nbsp;forced hundreds to flee their homes.

Waves up to five metres (17.5 feet) were pounding much of the east coast, including Sydney, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of further danger as the&nbsp;storm&nbsp;moves south.

Two bodies were found in cars washed away in flood waters while a man was swept off the rocks south of Sydney&#39;s surfing beach of Bondi, police said.

The New South Wales state emergency services said they had received more than 9,250 calls and had conducted 280 flood rescues.

Insurers received more than 11,150 claims with estimated insured losses of A$38 million, the Insurance Council of&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;said. It expects the number of claims to rise further over the coming days.

Stocks in&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;biggest insurers, including QBE Insurance &lt;QBE.AX&gt;, Insurance&nbsp;AustraliaGroup &lt;IAG.AX&gt; and Suncorp &lt;SUN.AX&gt;, skidded in a stronger wider market.

But CLSA analyst Jan Van Der Schalk did not see a major earnings impact on insurers who said they were still assessing the impact of the catastrophe.[S9N0ZH019]

Australian websites including Channel Nine &lt;NEC.AX&gt;, Foxtel Play &lt;TLS.AX&gt; &lt;NWSA.O&gt; and Domino&#39;s Pizza &lt;DMP.AX&gt; went down on Sunday when Amazon Web Service&#39;s &lt;AMZN.O&gt; Sydney zone experienced a two-hour power outage, ITnews website said.

An Amazon spokesman declined to comment but Amazon Web Services&rsquo; status page on Monday showed several connectivity issues in Sydney had been resolved.

Automated teller machines and point-of-sale banking services were also hit.

A spokeswoman for the Port Authority of New South Wales state said Newcastle, the world&#39;s largest exit point for sea-borne thermal coal and used by global miners Glencore &lt;GLEN.L&gt;, Rio Tinto &lt;RIO.AX&gt; &lt;RIO.L&gt; and Anglo American &lt;AAL.L&gt;, was placed on restricted ship movements over the weekend but did not sustain any damage.

&quot;While some sites had minor production interruptions, none of these has impacted our contractual obligations or production forecasts,&quot; Glencore said.

Port Kembla, the largest vehicle import hub in&nbsp;Australia, remained closed as the&nbsp;storm&nbsp;moved south.

Three people died as the giant waves and torrential rain hit the east coast of Australia on Monday. The storm has forced hundreds of people to leave their homes.

Giant waves, cyclone-strength winds and torrential rain swept three people to their deaths on Australia's east coast on Monday after the storm forced hundreds to flee their homes. Waves up to five metres (17.5 feet) were pounding much of the east coast, including Sydney, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of further danger as the storm moves south. Two bodies were found in cars washed away in flood waters while a man was swept off the rocks south of Sydney's surfing beach of Bondi, police said. The New South Wales state emergency services said they had received more than 9,250 calls and had conducted 280 flood rescues. Insurers received more than 11,150 claims with estimated insured losses of A$38 million, the Insurance Council of Australia said. It expects the number of claims to rise further over the coming days. Stocks in Australia biggest insurers, including QBE Insurance <QBE.AX>, Insurance AustraliaGroup <IAG.AX> and Suncorp <SUN.AX>, skidded in a stronger wider market. But CLSA analyst Jan Van Der Schalk did not see a major earnings impact on insurers who said they were still assessing the impact of the catastrophe.[S9N0ZH019] Australian websites including Channel Nine <NEC.AX>, Foxtel Play <TLS.AX> <NWSA.O> and Domino's Pizza <DMP.AX> went down on Sunday when Amazon Web Service's <AMZN.O> Sydney zone experienced a two-hour power outage, ITnews website said. An Amazon spokesman declined to comment but Amazon Web Services’ status page on Monday showed several connectivity issues in Sydney had been resolved. Automated teller machines and point-of-sale banking services were also hit. A spokeswoman for the Port Authority of New South Wales state said Newcastle, the world's largest exit point for sea-borne thermal coal and used by global miners Glencore <GLEN.L>, Rio Tinto <RIO.AX> <RIO.L> and Anglo American <AAL.L>, was placed on restricted ship movements over the weekend but did not sustain any damage. "While some sites had minor production interruptions, none of these has impacted our contractual obligations or production forecasts," Glencore said. Port Kembla, the largest vehicle import hub in Australia, remained closed as the storm moved south.

Australia storm sweeps three to their death as it hits east coast

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