The US government will seek congressional approval of over US$10 billion for immediate relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, congressional officials said Thursday.

The US Congress is expected to come back early from its summer recess, returning by Friday to start work on emergency legislation for victims of Hurricane Katrina, including the 10-billion-dollar installment.

US lawmakers are likely to approve the request by the weekend.

The 10-billion-dollar plan is aimed to cover immediate costs of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the country's quick-response body for natural disasters.

At present, the FEMA is reportedly spending over US$500 million each day to the relief and rescue needs for hurricane-devastated areas in Gulf Coast states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Aside from the 10-billion-dollar plan, at least two other bills will follow up, according to US Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran.

He said at current spending rates for relief needs, a second bill would be needed in two or three weeks, with another bill to come next after the damage is accurately estimated.

US President George W. Bush has described Hurricane Katrina as "one of the worst natural disasters" in the country's history, and it could also be the most expensive one in terms of total losses and relief funding.

(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2005)