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Six people feared dead in massive storms across Texas
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-19 17:07

HOUSTON -- Six people were feared killed by massive storms that swept southeast Texas Saturday, including five Houston children trapped in a car that ran into a flooded ditch.

Rescue workers found the car Saturday afternoon. Two men and a 10-year-old girl who were riding in the car reportedly escaped, but the other five children were swept away by high waters, Houston Fire Assistant Chief Omero Longoria said.

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Emergency workers could not open the car's doors because of the strong storm current and a few more hours were needed for rescuers to pull the car from the water, newspaper Houston Chronicle said.

A 76-year-old man also died Saturday after his car got stuck in a flooded underpass.

The floods left about 2,000 homes without electricity in southern Harris County and Galveston Country. Some residents were forced into evacuation because of flash flooding.

Officials urged local people to stay at home, drive slower, and avoid areas with rapid water flow.

Heavy rains swept across Texas on Saturday. East Texas and parts of south Texas were under some kind of threatening weather advisory with tornado warnings and watches and flash flood warnings and watches in place.