Texas battles rain and flooding

The US city of Houston, Texas, is bearing the brunt of heavy rain that has caused massive flooding and led to deaths and damage.

Texas, along with the state of Oklahoma and northern Mexico, has been affected by the rain which has left many people dead or unaccounted for.

Mexico was especially hard hit by the severe weather on Monday, when a tornado near the US border claimed more than a dozen lives.

Houston received more than 10 inches (25 centimeters) of overnight rain which continued into Tuesday daytime. Hundreds of vehicles were abandoned on roads in the Texan city, with some cars completely under water. Several houses were swept away.

Many fans and one professional basketball player were left stranded following a Houston Rockets home game on Monday night. While the Toyota Center itself was not flooded, some fans and the Rockets' center Dwight Howard could not make it home.

A statement on the city of Houston's website said more rain was expected into the evening on Tuesday.

"Houston residents are asked to remain in their homes until the water recedes," the statement read. "There is significant flooding on major roads and highways across the areas, and as the city drains, this creates a serious flooding hazard."

Houston Mayor Annise Parker has declared a state of disaster for the city, and has also asked Texas Governor Greg Abbott for an emergency declaration.

Hundreds of homes have been destroyed in Texas, and the death toll of nine people between Oklahoma and Texas is expected to rise. A number of people are still missing, Governor Abbott told US broadcaster CNN.

US President Barack Obama has told Abbott that the federal government would be available to help with recovery after the floods.

mz/rc (AFP, Reuters)