Staff Reporter: The death toll from historic rains in the US states of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania has risen to 25. Hurricane Ida hit three states in the United States last Wednesday (September 1) night. However, the death toll is expected to rise further.
At least 12 people have died in New York City. Police said one of them, an 70-year-old man, died in a car and eight people died inside the house after floodwaters receded.
Meanwhile, at least eight people have died in New Jersey and three in Montgomery County, a Pennsylvania suburb. One died under a tree, another in a car and another at home.
A Connecticut state soldier on duty in Connecticut was floated in his cruiser and later taken to hospital, local authorities said.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and city Mayor Bill de Blasio jointly declared a state of emergency after such rain on Wednesday night (September 1) local time. A state of emergency was also declared in the state of New Jersey.
Almost all subway lines in New York have been shut down. It has also been instructed not to take out unnecessary vehicles on the road. Many flights and rail services to New York and New Jersey have been canceled.
Pictures of different places have spread through social media. Subway stations, people’s homes have been flooded and roads have been submerged. Meanwhile, the roof of a building in Kearney, New Jersey collapsed.
Police said there were several people there at the time. Rescue workers are trying to rescue people from the scene. However, it is not yet clear whether anyone was injured.
Hector Laura, mayor of Pacific, New Jersey, said a driver died after drowning in floodwaters in New Jersey.
Flash floods have also been declared in many parts of the state.
All flights to flood-hit Newark Liberty International Airport have been suspended. All rail services except the New Jersey Transit Atlantic City Line have also been suspended.
Central Park in New York City received 3.15 inches of rain in one hour on Wednesday evening, the highest on record.
Half an inch of rain was recorded at Newark Airport at 6 minutes on Wednesday evening. The meteorological department said 1.53 inches of rain fell in 23 minutes.
Meanwhile, 1 lakh 9 thousand in Pennsylvania, 87 thousand in New Jersey, 38 thousand in New York, nearly 16 thousand in Connecticut and more than 11,000 power outage in Maryland.
BP/SM
