Severe Storm Ravages Houston, Causing Fatalities and Power Outages

Houston, The Gulf Observer: Houston was hit by a severe storm packing hurricane-force winds on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of at least four people and causing significant damage across the city. The storm, with winds reaching 80-100 miles per hour (129-161 kph), blew out windows in high-rise buildings and left approximately 800,000 homes without power, plunging much of the city into darkness, according to Reuters.

Downtown Houston and its commercial district were particularly hard-hit, with fallen power lines and shattered glass littering the streets. Traffic and street lights were knocked out across the city, exacerbating the chaos, Mayor John Whitmire reported.

The thunderstorm, which raked the Gulf Coast city in southeast Texas, the state’s most populous urban center, has led to the closure of public schools on Friday. Local authorities are also advising all non-essential workers to take the day off to ensure safety and facilitate recovery efforts.