Two dead after Hurricane Laura lashes Louisiana and Texas

Buildings and homes are flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura (David J. Phillip/AP)

One of the strongest hurricanes ever to strike the US has pounded the Gulf Coast with wind and rain, unleashing a fearsome wall of sea water and killing at least two people.

Louisiana took the brunt of the damage when the Category 4 storm barrelled over Lake Charles, an industrial and casino city of 80,000 people.