Texas snow storm leaves millions without power
A rare deep freeze in Texas that raised demand for power forced the US state's electric grid operator on Monday (February 15) to impose rotating blackouts that left nearly 3 million customers without electricity.
The PowerOutage.us website, which tracks power outages, said 2,802,978 Texas customers were experiencing outages at 12:18 p.m. CST (1818 GMT).
President Joe Biden declared an emergency, unlocking federal assistance to Texas, where temperatures on Monday ranged from 28 to minus 8 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 2 to minus 22 Celsius).
Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport said it would remain closed until 1 p.m. CST (1900 GMT) while the city's Hobby Airport will cease operations until at least Tuesday due to the inclement weather.
The freeze also took a toll on the energy industry in Texas, by far the country's largest crude producer, shutting oil refineries and forcing restrictions from natural gas pipeline operators.
Apart from Texas, much of the United States was in the grip of bone-chilling weather over the three-day Presidents Day holiday weekend.
The National Weather Service said an Arctic air mass had spread southwards, well beyond areas accustomed to freezing weather, with winter storm warnings posted for most of the Gulf Coast region, Oklahoma and Missouri.
(Source: Reuters)
In Nigeria, more than 100 inmates escape after rain damages prison
Palestinians inspect rubble of destroyed building in Rafah
Displaced Gazans cornered at Egypt border as Israel’s Rafah invasion looms
April 25: ‘Axis of Resistance’ operations against Israeli occupation
Hezbollah hits Israeli military sites near border with rockets, drones
Rwandans say UK deportation 'another brutal manifestation of neo-colonialism'
US troops begin construction of controversial pier off Gaza
Israel ‘spoofs’ GPS signals, endangering flight safety amid Gaza war: Report
Iran urges Security Council to address 'belligerent' Israeli atrocities
VIDEO | Leader meets workers on Labor Week
French police called in to break up US-style pro-Palestinian student demo
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
