Hurricane Laura Upgraded to Category 4 Super Typhoon... 500,000 Evacuated

Rapidly intensifying to Category 4... Approaching the Gulf of Mexico
Concerns over 2005 Katrina nightmare replay... Over 500,000 evacuated

Satellite image of Hurricane Laura, which has grown to Category 4. [Image source=NASA]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Hurricane Laura, approaching the southern U.S. Gulf of Mexico region, has intensified into a Category 4 super typhoon and is expected to make landfall in Texas and Louisiana. More than 500,000 residents in the Gulf of Mexico area have evacuated, raising concerns that the storm could cause damage comparable to Hurricane Katrina, which struck Louisiana in 2005.

On the 26th (local time), according to the Washington Post (WP), the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced that Hurricane Laura, approaching the Gulf of Mexico, has grown to a Category 4 storm. Laura's maximum wind speed reaches approximately 185 km/h, and it is feared to cause storm surges about 4.5 meters high along coastal areas. According to the Associated Press (AP), areas hit by a Category 4 hurricane typically suffer significant casualties and property damage, with some places becoming uninhabitable for several months, according to U.S. authorities.

As Laura is expected to make landfall in Texas and Louisiana, more than 500,000 residents in the anticipated path have already evacuated. Laura is also expected to bring heavy rainfall as it moves northwest inland, prompting flood warnings for most of Arkansas and forecasts of heavy rain in parts of Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

The 27th, when Hurricane Laura is expected to make landfall in the Gulf of Mexico region and cause significant damage, coincides with the final day of the Republican National Convention, where President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver his acceptance speech as the presidential candidate. The New York Times (NYT) reported that if Laura's damage becomes severe, political repercussions are also anticipated.

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