Huge waves stirred up by Hurricane Rita smash into a coastline in Texas, Sept. 24. Hurricane Rita launched a fierce assault on Texas and Louisiana early Saturday. (Xinhua Photo)

    HOUSTON, Texas, Sept. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Hurricane Rita launched a fierce assault on Texas and Louisiana early Saturday as the storm's potent eyewall ripped ashore with near 200 kilometers per hour winds and walls of driving rain.

    Rita samashed into a coastline bristling with vital oil and chemical installations.

    Rita threatened dozens of shuttered refineries and chemical plants along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast that represent aquarter of the nation's oil refining capacity. Environmentalists warned of the risk of a toxic spill, and business analysts said Rita could cause already-high gasoline prices to rise to as much as US dollars a gallon.

    Forecasters feared Rita could send storm tides up to 4.5 meters crashing into the Texas and Louisiana coasts, further west than Katrina-hit areas in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi where the death toll from the August 29 storm has now hit 1,075.

    President George W. Bush, who was criticized by the public for his government's slow response to Hurricane Katrina, planned to visit his home state Saturday. He will go to the state's emergency operations center in Austin and then to San Antonio. Enditem