US: Hurricane Ida weakens to tropical storm

In the United States, Hurricane Ida, which made landfall on Monday, in south of New Orleans has weakened to a tropical storm. The National Hurricane Centre has  said, Tropical Storm Ida is moving with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometres per hour. The Centre said, Ida is causing dangerous storm surge, damaging winds and flash flooding over southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi. One person was killed when a tree fell on their home in Ascension Parish, in the Baton Rouge area.

Louisiana hospitals in the path of Hurricane Ida were forced to evacuate dozens of patients after the storm left them with pieces torn off their roofs and water leaking down walls to pool on floors as they relied on emergency generators for electricity. US health officials Monday declared public health emergencies for Louisiana and Mississippi, seeking to suspend government red tape that may get in the way of providing help to people affected by Hurricane Ida.

President Joe Biden said, Ida would be life-threatening, with immense devastation likely beyond the coasts. The President has declared a major disaster in the state and released extra funds for rescue and recovery efforts. The President said, he is in touch with the Governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He said more than 5,000 members of the National Guard from several states have been dispatched to support search and rescue efforts, adding that the number of confirmed deaths is likely to grow in the coming days.