Politics: These photos show the sheer scale of destruction from Hurricane Harvey

The storm has driven thousands of people out of their homes and killed at least nine people. Rain is expected to keep falling until Thursday.

Hurricane Harvey landed in Texas over the weekend, delivering an unprecedented several feet of rain across the state's cities and driving thousands of residents out of their homes.

At least nine people have been confirmed dead, and the figure is expected to rise.

The storm, which came with wind speeds of up to 130 mph, has shown no signs of subsiding. Authorities predict the rain will continue until Thursday — by which time total rainfall may reach 50 inches in certain areas.

The photos and video clips below show something of the scale of the disaster.

Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on Friday. Rescuers and evacuees travelled down flooded streets on motorboats and submerged cars lay nearby.

Below is a scene in Dickinson, Texas, as captured by ABC News.

Cars were submerged and highways were deserted and flooded.

Traffic lights were toppled.

Homes and businesses were destroyed.

Boats toppled over each other in this storage facility in Rockport.

One person from the coastal city was reported dead.

Here's a shopping centre in Houston inundated with water.

Evacuees waded down highways to search for shelter.

Rescue crews were sent to patrol neighbourhoods by boat.

The US Coast Guard also sent helicopters to help.

Many waited in their homes and neighbourhoods for rescue crews to arrive.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner defended his decision on not ordering an evacuation before the hurricane made landfall, telling a press conference: "You literally cannot put 6.5 million people on the road.

"You issue an evacuation order and put everyone on the highway, you are really asking for a major calamity."

Others were creative with their transportation methods. Here, Alexendre Jorge evacuates four-year-old Ethan Colman on a paddleboard in Houston.

Pet owners struggled to save themselves and their animals.

Team effort: A group of men push a stalled pickup truck through a flooded Houston street.

For more Hurricane Harvey coverage on BI, visit:

• 'Texas has never seen an event like this': Harvey pummels state with 'catastrophic,' 'unprecedented' flooding — here's the latest
• Tracking Harvey: Before-and-after images show the catastrophic flooding in Houston
• The best charities to give to in the wake of Hurricane Harvey

The storm has driven thousands of people out of their homes and killed at least nine people. Rain is expected to keep falling until Thursday. Read Full Story