ISLAMABAD: The death toll from the devastating ‘bomb cyclone’ that gripped much of the United States over Christmas rose to 60 on Thursday, officials said.
Mark Poloncarz, Executive of Erie County, said that two more deaths had been reported in the western New York region that wass severely affected by the upsetting storm.
Erie County includes Buffalo city which has been battered with snow and record deaths.
Poloncarz said that 17 of the 39 victims were found outside, 11 in homes, four in cars, while four died of snowplowing or shoveling and three died as emergency workers could not reach them in time.
In the Midwestern state of Ohio, nine people were killed in storm-related car crashes while at least half a dozen other states also recorded scattered fatalities.
As snow is melting, New York officials expressed concerns about flooding but the county executive said that it does not appear very dangerous.
He said that it appears that flooding would be minimal. The executive further said that electricity had been restored across the county.
Most severe storms in US history
As Buffalo city dug itself out of one of the most severe storms in US history, there has been mounting criticism of the authorities’ response calling the calamity handling embarrassing.
For example, a travel ban was not issued in the city until 9:30 am on Friday morning when many citizens were already on their way to offices and work. –AFP/APP
