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Hurricane lashing long stretch of southern US coast from Louisiana through Mississippi and Alabama and into western Florida. One of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the United States has made landfall over the southern Gulf of Mexico coastline, and is heading toward the low-lying city of New Orleans, Louisiana. U.S. weather officials say Hurricane Katrina slammed ashore early Monday with torrential rains and winds of nearly 240 kilometers per hour. Weather conditions along the Gulf coast are deteriorating and will continue to worsen throughout the day. New Orleans - a major population and tourism center famed for its annual Mardi Gras parades and French-accented culture - faces the threat of potentially catastrophic damage from flooding. Most of the city lies below sea level, protected only by earthen embankments and pumps that are not expected to withstand huge waves and water surges of up to nine meters pushed by the storm's winds. More than one million people have evacuated the region, while others have taken refuge in shelters including New Orleans' large domed football stadium, the Superdome. The hurricane is lashing a long stretch of the southern U.S. coast from Louisiana through Mississippi and Alabama and into western Florida. Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP. Copyright © 2005
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