Southern US battles winter freeze as thousands suffer power outage in Texas

Slick roads have caused at least eight deaths in Texas with nearly 700 flights being canceled since frigid weather set in on Monday

A mess of ice, sleet and snow lingered across much of the southern US into Thursday, as thousands in Texas endured freezing temperatures with no power, including many in the state capital, Austin.

Treacherous driving conditions had resulted in at least eight deaths on slick roads since Monday, including seven in Texas and one in Arkansas. The Republican Texas governor, Greg Abbott, urged people not to drive.