At least eight killed as Storm Ida dumps a months worth of rain on New York City
At least eight people have been killed after Storm Ida dumped a month's worth of rain on parts of the US.
States of emergency were declared in New York and New Jersey after the remnants of a hurricane sparked flash floods, with subway services in New York City suspended.
Last night, New York City suffered its wettest hour on record, with more than 80mm of rain falling in Central Park in the space of 60 minutes.
Hurricane Ida: New York flooding live updates
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Flash flooding hits New York City
Flash flooding hits New York City That eclipsed the previous record of 49mm that was set in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Henri just last month.
Advertisement
The casualties include three men, three women and a two-year-old boy, who died in four separate flooding incidents in New York City, police said.
The toddler was found dead inside a home, along with a 50-year-old man and 48-year-old woman.
More on Hurricane IdaThe city's fire department said it responded to a report of flooding in Queens shortly after 11pm and one person taken from the building was pronounced dead.
Another victim in Passaic, New Jersey, was found dead in a vehicle that went underwear when it was caught in floodwaters near the Passaic River, according to the town's mayor.
The National Weather Service said Wednesday was the first time it had issued a "flash flood emergency" for New York City.
The term is used for exceedingly rare situations in which flash flooding is posing a severe threat to human life and causing catastrophic damage - or will do so soon.
Image: People navigated heavy rains and flooded walkways at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center "We're enduring a historic weather event tonight with record breaking rain across the city, brutal flooding and dangerous conditions on our roads," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
He urged people to stay off the streets, saying: "If you're thinking of going outside, don't. Stay off the subways. Stay off the roads. Don't drive into these heavy waters. Stay inside."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Floodwater cascades into New York subway
Floodwater cascades into New York subway A travel ban that barred non-emergency vehicles from streets and highways was issued until 5am ET (10am BST).
New York City Subway tweeted that anyone trapped between stations should stay put as videos posted online showed riders standing on seats and trains filled with water.
The city's LaGuardia and JFK airports reported flight disruptions, while New Jersey's Newark airport limited its operations after initially suspending all flights.
Image: A flooded road in Williamsburg, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City At least one tornado hit New Jersey, with posts on social media showing houses reduced to rubble by strong winds.
When Ida made landfall in Louisiana as a hurricane at the weekend, it left the city of New Orleans without electricity and caused huge amounts of damage.
The latest wave of devastation caused by the storm comes as the UN warned that weather disasters are striking the world four to five times more often and causing seven times more damage than in the 1970s.
0 Response to "At least eight killed as Storm Ida dumps a months worth of rain on New York City"
Post a Comment