‘How many bodies will we find?’: Texas begins counting the cost of Hurricane Harvey
The disaster is unfolding on an epic scale, with the nation’s fourth-largest city mostly paralysed by the storm that has parked itself over the Gulf coast
Crews overwhelmed by thousands of rescue calls during one of the heaviest downpours in US history have had little time to search for other potential victims, but officials acknowledged the grim reality that fatalities linked to Harvey could soar once the devastating floodwaters recede from one of America’s most sprawling metropolitan centres.
More than three days after the storm ravaged the Texas coastline as a category 4 hurricane, authorities had confirmed only three deaths – including a woman killed on Monday when heavy rains dislodged a large oak tree onto her trailer home in the small town of Porter. But unconfirmed reports of others missing or presumed dead were growing.
“We know in these kind of events that, sadly, the death toll goes up historically,” Houston police Chief Art Acevedo said. “I’m really worried about how many bodies we’re going to find.”
One Houston woman said she presumed six members of a family, including four of her grandchildren, died after their van sank into Greens Bayou in East Houston, although Houston emergency officials couldn’t confirm the deaths. Virginia Saldivar said her brother-in-law was driving the van on Sunday when a strong current took the vehicle over a bridge and into the bayou. The driver was able to get out and urged the children to escape through the back door, Saldivar said, but they could not.
In these kind of events ... the death toll goes up historically. I’m really worried about how many bodies we’re going to find
“I’m just hoping we find the bodies,” Saldivar said.
And a spokeswoman for a Houston hotel says one of its employees disappeared while helping about 100 guests and workers evacuate the building amid rising floodwaters.
