The number of people who have lost their jobs in the US as a result of recent hurricanes has topped 500,000.
The Labor Department that, in the past two months and as a result of hurricanes Katrina and Rita were, 502,000 jobs have been lost, with 24,000 going last week alone.
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There may be further cuts ahead due to the effects of hurricane Wilma, which hit Florida last Monday.
Total first-time claims for state unemployment insurance benefits were 328,000 for the week to 22 October.
