US: Hurricane Ida lashes Louisiana with major force, New Orleans hunkers down

Hurricane Ida blasted the coast of Louisiana on Sunday as a powerful Category 4 storm. On the same date 16 years ago deadly Hurricane Katrina had devastated the southern US city of New Orleans. Ida is one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the U.S

It dropped hours later to a Category 3 storm with maximum winds of 193 kmph.

The rising ocean swamped the barrier island of Grand Isle as landfall came just to the west at Port Fourchon.

Ida made a second landfall about two hours later near Galliano in Louisiana.

Further, Ida knocked out power to the entire city of New Orleans, with only generators working.

US President Joe Biden said Ida was "turning into a very, very dangerous storm" and the federal government was ready to provide help.