Hurricane Laura batters US Gulf Coast with wind, rain and massive storm surge

A tattered American flag blows in the wind in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, in Port Arthur, Texas (Eric Gay/PA)

Hurricane Laura pounded the Gulf Coast with ferocious winds and torrential rain and unleashed a wall of seawater that could push 40 miles inland as the Category 4 storm roared ashore in Louisiana.

It battered a tall building in Lake Charles, blowing out windows as glass and debris flew to the ground, while a floating casino came unmoored and hit a bridge.