Houston, August 30 (TNS): At least nine people are reported to have died in Texas floods, including six members of the same family whose van was swept away by rising floodwater, and a man in his 60s who apparently drowned while trying to swim to safety.
Two major dams outside Houston have begun overflowing as Storm Harvey pushes reservoirs past capacity.
Flood control official Jeff Lindner said nearby communities could face further flooding as a result.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are in Texas to see the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, now downgraded to a tropical storm.
Record rainfall has caused huge floods and is starting to affect Louisiana.
Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes in the Houston area while rescuers are trying to reach others that remain stranded.
Engineers have been releasing water to try to ease pressure on the Addicks and Barker dams, which control the amount of water in the Buffalo Bayou – the main river into Houston.
But the water level in the Addicks reservoir west of Houston exceeded 108ft (32.9m) on Tuesday, geological data shows, causing it to flow over the top of defences.
Meanwhile flood gauges on the Barker dam have themselves been put out of action by the deluge.
