The violent winter storm, nicknamed Elliott, which has been battering the United States for several days, has already claimed at least 53 lives across the country. Authorities fear the death toll will rise as relief efforts continue.
As the United States hopes it will soon end with the "storm of the century", which killed at least 53 people across the country in the middle of Christmas, the terrifying tales of people dying in their cars or stranded for days storms multiply.
The total number of deaths confirmed by authorities in nine US states is 53, including 31 in Erie County alone, which includes the city of Buffalo, New York, where on Monday, December 26, 2022, President Joe Biden said emergency state. Authorities fear greater casualties as relief operations taper off and on.
The bad weather that has plagued the country for a week began to ease on Wednesday over the East and Midwest. "This is clearly the storm of the century," New York Governor Kathy Hochul said Monday.
The US National Weather Service (NWS) expects temperatures to reach around 10C by the end of the week, but warns of "hazardous local traffic conditions".
The severe cold that has hit the United States has been accompanied by heavy snowfall and strong winds, especially in the Great Lakes region, causing chaos in ground and air transport and canceling thousands of flights abroad. approaching Christmas. According to tracking site FlightAware.com, more than 5,900 flights were canceled on Tuesday and Wednesday.