Dramatic pictures show Texas Hurricane Beryl aftermath as seven killed and millions without power

Seven individuals have tragically lost their lives and approximately three million people are without power as Hurricane Beryl wreaked havoc in Southeast Texas and Louisiana last night.

Initially classified as a category one hurricane, Beryl has since been downgraded to a tropical depression. It swept through the state with devastating winds and up to 15 inches of rain, leaving behind a path of destruction marked by ruined buildings and flooded streets.

Reports indicate that sustained wind speeds in the Houston area reached 75mph, with gusts peaking at 87mph during the storm's onslaught. Houston Airport was forced to cancel over 1,100 flights yesterday, and around 2.6 million Texans were left without power by evening.

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Authorities have confirmed seven fatalities in Harris and Montgomery counties, with an additional death reported in Louisiana, reports the Express US .

In Harris, a 53 year old man tragically died when a fallen power line caused his roof to collapse. A woman also lost her life when a tree fell on her home, as reported by CBS affiliate KHOU.

A Houston Police Department employee, Russell Richardson, 54, drowned after attempting to navigate high water on his commute to work, according to Houston police. Another casualty of the storm occurred when a house fire was ignited by lightning, as stated by the Houston mayor.

In Montgomery County, a man was killed when a tree fell on him and his truck, while two homeless individuals died when a tree collapsed on their tent, as reported by KHOU.

The National Weather Service (NWS) had previously issued a warning that Hurricane Beryl could trigger tornadoes on Monday night in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, with the risk shifting towards Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio this Tuesday.

In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, over 2,500 emergency responders are grappling with the aftermath, as buildings and homes have been severely damaged and it remains uncertain if there are more victims.

Beryl marks the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season. However, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has cautioned that the region should brace for up to seven major hurricanes this season, compared to the usual average of three.

Before reaching Texas, Beryl had already carved a deadly path through parts of Mexico and the Caribbean. The storm hit land around 4 a.m., and high waters quickly started to shut down streets in storm-battered Houston, the nation's fourth-largest city, which was once again under flood warnings after recent heavy storms devastated neighborhoods.