By Staff, Agencies

Hurricane Laura, declared a category-4 storm, has reached the shores of Louisiana. With winds of up to 150mph, the National Weather Service has urged nearby residents to seek shelter immediately.

The storm made landfall early on Thursday, bringing torrential rain and violent winds to coastline communities.

Videos showed huge gusts pushing against trees and sending debris flying through the air.

Residents have been ordered to find a safe place to sit out the storm.

“TAKE COVER NOW! Treat these imminent extreme winds as if a tornado was approaching. Move immediately to a safe room in your shelter. Take action now to protect your life!” The National Weather Service tweeted.

The National Hurricane Center [NHC] reported 150mph winds and warned of “potentially catastrophic impacts” on the region.

In one video, huge balls of light, believed to be explosions, were seen in the distance as powerful, whistling winds bend nearby trees. Another eyewitness shared a video of the terrifying gusts while taking shelter under a porch awning.

The NHC warned in an earlier message that the storm would create “unsurvivable” conditions along the coast of Texas and Louisiana, and predicted that the hurricane could reach 30 miles inland.