Just 10 000 left in New Orleans

2005-09-05 16:18

New Orleans - Only a few thousand of New Orleans' nearly half a million people remained in the city a week after it was hit by Hurricane Katrina, the commander of relief operations said on Monday.

General Russel Honore said evacuations since the killer storm hit the Gulf Coast had reduced the once-bustling jazz capital's population to "something less than 10 000. Much less than 10 000, I would believe."

Authorities fear thousands were killed by the hurricane, which triggered massive flooding here.

But in an interview with ABC television, Honore was unable to predict exactly how many bodies they would find.

"We expect it to be a significant number of people based on those who were evacuated and in the low-lying areas," he said.

"There's some bad news still yet to come on that subject."

"I mean, this is a disaster of unknown proportions."

Honore said his top priority was search and rescue, followed by assuring delivery of food and water, establishing communications and informing people where they could find fuel to get to relief distribution sites.

- AFP