US: Officials have attributed the deaths to exposure, car crashes, downed trees, and other effects of the winter storm.
At least 18 people have died in a US winter storm that brought bone-chilling cold across the country over the holiday weekend. The monstrous storm has knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses and left millions more anxious about the prospect of a Christmas Eve blackout, the AP reports.
The storm unleashed its full fury over Buffalo, New York, with hurricane-force winds causing whiteout conditions. Emergency response efforts were also paralyzed and the city's international airport was closed.
Officials have attributed the deaths to exposure, car accidents, fallen tree limbs, and other effects of the winter storm. In the Buffalo area, about three people died, including two people who suffered medical emergencies in their homes.
Deep snow, single-digit temperatures and power outages forced local residents in the Buffalo area to move out of their homes to wherever it was warm.
New York Gov. Cathy Hochul said Buffalo Niagara International Airport would remain closed through Monday morning and nearly every fire truck in Buffalo was stuck in the snow.
"No matter how many emergency vehicles we have, they can't get through those conditions as we speak," Hochul was quoted as saying by the AP.
More than 400,000 homes and businesses lost power across the US on Christmas Eve due to an Arctic blizzard and winter storm that killed at least 16 people and brought devastating winds, heavy snow and dangerously low temperatures along with downed power lines.
Thousands of flights were canceled or delayed on 24–25 December and dangerous road conditions forced some people to postpone their Christmas plans.
Temperatures could soon drop into the 50s in various parts of the United States. The wind chill factor is estimated to be -35, making it feel even colder in places like Des Moines, Iowa, where the temperature on December 23 was -7 degrees Fahrenheit.
No comments:
Post a Comment