The death toll from the polar cold snap in the United States has risen to more than 60 after New York state reported two new deaths Thursday amid criticism of emergency services for their inability to respond to the storm.
In the city of Buffalo, New York State’s second largest city, authorities lifted an early morning ban on highway driving that has been in place for six days, while essential businesses have begun to resume normal activity.
With temperatures likely to rise in Buffalo in the coming days, the city is now preparing for possible flooding. State Governor Kathy Hochul announced the day before that nearly 800,000 sandbags are already available for use.
However, Mark Poloncarz, the head of Erie County, where 39 deaths have been counted, has assured that flooding will be «minimal.» «Too many people have died,» he acknowledged. Poloncarz has previously faced criticism for the county’s lack of cleanup, as well as the inability of emergency services to cope with the storm.
Elsewhere, at least 25 deaths have been reported in 11 states, although the figure is unclear as casualties continue to rise as states report their toll, as reported by U.S. broadcaster CNN.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
