Hurricane Harvey death toll rises to 18

18 people died and over 13,000 were rescued from flood waters and other devastations caused by Tropical Storm Harvey in Houston and surrounding areas.

Flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey has devastated the city, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee from their homes.

Hurricane Harvey is the heaviest tropical downpour in US history, and has left an area 15 times the size of Manhattan under water, according to the Houston Chronicle newspaper.

A curfew was also introduced by Houston's mayor, amid reports of looting, armed robberies and people impersonating police officers.

On Wednesday, Singapore's defence ministry sent four military helicopters to assist with the relief effort.

Hurricane Harvey is expected to be America’s most expensive natural disaster as damages will presumably run into tens of billions of dollars