Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst natural
disasters in US history, has left city of New Orleans almost
entirely flooded and thousands feared dead.
New Orleans has made a "desperate SOS"
for help as authorities struggled to stem a descent into
anarchy and evacuate survivors.
Some 4,000 National Guard troops fought an uphill
battle to restore order to the largely submerged jazz mecca
plagued by gunbattles, fistfights, gangs of roving thugs,
looters and carjackers.
Residents reported survivors dropping dead in
shelters or gunned down outside the local convention centre.
Hospitals were evacuated after power ran out
and helicopters ferrying patients and babies drew gunfire.
Up to 300,000 survivors may still be stuck in
disaster areas in the state, and at least 40,000 uniformed
troops were needed for New Orleans alone.
President George W. Bush said it would take
years to recover from the deadly ravages of Hurricane Katrina.
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