Six dead as Texas ravaged by floods

Six people have been killed in Texas floods, as rivers burst their banks, sweeping into homes and cars, state officials said Monday.

Drenching, and in many cases record-setting heavy rain in areas west of Houston, swamped the Brazos River and killed people in Washington, Travis and Kendall counties.

So far, Washington county appeared hardest hit with four confirmed deaths. Three of the dead were swept away by rushing waters, Texas emergency management said.

The city of Brenham said it was struggling after 19 inches (48 centimeters) of rain fell in 48 hours. Locals waded waist-deep through city streets, impassable for vehicles.

The deluge actually stopped late Friday. But the area remains soaked and rivers, with nowhere for the water to go, have melded with parts of the Brazos river and in some cases dragged locals to their death.