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HOUSTON (AP) — Severe thunderstorms struck Southeast Texas on Thursday for the second time this month, killing at least four people, shattering high-rise windows, toppling trees and knocking out power to nearly 900,000 homes and businesses in the Houston area. .
Mary Benton, communications chief and senior adviser to the mayor, confirmed the four deaths to The Associated Press in the evening.
Flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for several counties, with the potential for damaging winds and even tornadoes in the evening, the National Weather Service office in Houston said.
“Take shelter now if you are in the path of this storm. Head downstairs!” the NWS office warned on social media platform X.
Streets were flooded and trees and power lines were down across the area. KHOU-TV showed images of smashed windows in an office building in downtown Houston, with glass scattered on the street below.
City officials urged residents to stay off the roads, as many of them are impassable and traffic lights are out.
Flights were halted at both major airports in Houston due to the weather. Sustained winds of up to 60 mph (96 km/h) were recorded at Bush Intercontinental Airport.
More than 870,000 customers were without power in and around Harris County, which includes Houston, according to poweroutage.us. The province is home to more than 4.7 million people.
The Houston Independent School District canceled classes Friday for all of its 274 campuses.
Severe storms hit the area during the first week of May, resulting in numerous high-water rescues, including some rescues from flooded rooftops.
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