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The ferocious winter storm that has battered the United States for several days has killed at least 49 people, including 27 in a single New York state county, and is far from over, authorities warned Monday.
A difficult, dangerous and icy storm. According to the latest report from the authorities, the severe cold storm that is sweeping the United States has caused the death of at least 49 people, 27 of them only in Erie County (New York).
Very sadly, the @ECDOH Medical Examiner has confirmed another 2 deaths from the Blizzard. Total deaths are now 27. Of these:
– 3 were from an EMS Delay;
– 14 were found outside;
– 3 were from shoveling/blowing cardiac events;
– 4 were from no heat; &
– 3 were in a vehicle. pic.twitter.com/Om996bJMoo—Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) December 26, 2022
“It’s too early to say it’s over,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul warned Monday (Dec. 26), noting that up to 12 inches of snow is still expected to fall. “This is clearly the blizzard of the century,” she added at a news conference from her hometown of Buffalo.
Like the governor of New York, the mayor of Buffalo, Byron Brown, emphasized the violence and intensity of the storm that had just hit the region. He left behind him more than five feet of snow, impassable roads and thousands of homes still without electricity.
“There are people who have been without electricity since Friday. Myself, my family, we were without electricity. The temperature in the house dropped to 4 degrees Celsius. It was very difficult,” he told Loubna Anaki, an RFI correspondent in New York.
“We stay at home as long as we are lucky enough to have a house with heating. But for others, who have no electricity, no heat, and hardly any food, it is obviously much more difficult,” Buffalo resident Antoine Yoshinaka told RFI.
The concern of local authorities is now mainly focused on the increasing number of human casualties.
Rescue teams mobilized
With the snowfall and calm winds, snowplows have been able to resume operations. And rescue teams are discovering cars abandoned on the roads or trapped under the snow. And with them, potential victims.
“It is terrible to find members of our community, who tried to move during the storm, who got lost and died on the street or in their cars,” added the mayor.
“It’s a big storm that caused a lot of damage: downed trees, broken power lines… It happened at Christmas time, so there were already fewer public services running. Unfortunately, there was theft and crime, as law enforcement didn’t could actually move,” Yoshinaka also stated.
“The sidewalks are full of snow. It’s 10 degrees below zero, the city is still in a state of emergency. People are asked to stay home, not drive their cars. All flights are canceled until Wednesday, the same than trains,” says the Buffalo resident.
To prevent further tragedies and accidents, the driving ban has remained in effect in the city of Buffalo since Monday, although some residents have challenged it. “Please, unless you are part of the emergency services, do not drive,” county official Mark Poloncarz said. “Conditions are bad.”
“They told us that everything should be back to normal on Wednesday, so we think the worst is over,” says Antoine Yoshinaka.
“My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones,” US President Joe Biden tweeted Monday, saying he had spoken to Gov. Hochul on the phone and pledging to provide whatever federal resources are needed. Across the country, 3,800 flights were canceled on Monday, December 26.
(With information from AFP)