Texas flash floods: Woman and her 4 grandchildren killed as heavy rains lash central US

Six people have been killed in central US as storms accompanied by heavy rains and tornadoes resulted in flash floods in Texas on 30 April. In one incident, a woman and four of her grandchildren were swept away as they tried to escape their home, where flood waters reached the roof.

All the five members of the family were killed in Palestine (Texas) around 100 miles (160 km) from Dallas. According to Palestine police captain James Muniz, "They were able to get out [from their home] but they were washed away."

In a separate incident, a Palestine man from Texas identified as 30-year-old Giovani Olivas was also swept under flood waters, Reuters reported. The bodies of all the six victims were recovered on Saturday and sent for post-mortem.

The other five victims include six-year-old Jamonicka Johnson, Von Johnson Jr, 7, Devonte Asberry, 8, Venetia Asberry, 9, and Lenda Asberry, 64.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has warned of a severe thunderstorm in New Orleans and southern Louisiana, while a flash flood warning has been issued for east Texas right up to Mississippi.

The department said: "Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected today into this evening across the lower Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley, Ozarks and the Ohio Valley."

Palestine (Texas) mayor, Bob Herrington, condoled all the deaths and said: "I don't recall ever seeing this much water rise so fast and in such a short period of time."

According to local news outlets, seven tornadoes were reported from the storm system on 29 April in Texas and Oklahoma.