United States: According to the Officials, the death toll from a severe winter storm that gripped much of the United States over Christmas rose to at least 61.
Erie County Executive Mr. Mark Poloncarz stated that 39 fatalities have already been reported in the region of western New York that took the brunt of the historic storm. Erie County includes the snow-battered city of Buffalo, where most of the deaths occurred.
Mr. Poloncarz observed that 17 of the 39 dead were found outside, 11 were found inside homes, four were found inside vehicles, four died while shovelling or blowing snow, and three died because emergency personnel were unable to reach them in time.
The midwestern state of Ohio recorded nine fatalities from storm-related vehicle accidents, and there were more deaths reported in at least half a dozen other states. Officials in New York had expressed concerns about flooding due to rising temperatures and snowmelt, but the county executive said “it does not appear like it will be bad.”
“Thankfully, it appears that flooding will be minimal,” Mr. Poloncarz remarked. The executive claimed that all of the county’s citizens now have access to electricity. As Buffalo dug itself out of the once-in-a-generation storm, there has been mounting criticism of the response of the authorities with Poloncarz calling the city’s handling “embarrassing.”
The storm also brought unseasonably cold temperatures to states such as Texas and Florida and caused chaos at airports, with thousands of flights delayed or cancelled.
WORLD ROUNDUP: Football legend Pele dies at 82
