Heavy Texas flooding kills four

Updated 10.43 Tue Jun 19 2007

Keywords: floods, Texas, US

Devastating floods in north Texas have killed four people, including a five-year-old girl and her grandmother.

Many residents in the city of Fort Worth were left stranded after torrential rainfall hit the area overnight.

The National Weather Service estimated that at least 20 centimetres (eight inches) of rain fell in some areas

A spokesman from the Texas Department of Public Safety said the girl and her grandmother were swept to their deaths after the family's mobile home was carried off its foundation and lodged against a bridge above a swollen creek.

Meanwhile in Haltom City, an area of Fort Worth, a four-year-old girl died after she was swept away by rushing water. Her body was found more than two hours later.

The National Weather Service estimated that at least 20 centimetres (eight inches) of rain fell in some areas.

Sherman and Gainesville were among the towns hardest hit.

About 500 homes were flooded in and around Fort Worth. At one point, about 450 displaced residents sought refuge at two temporary shelters.