US: at least 44 dead as flash floods drown New York, New Jersey

In US, at least 44 people dead in a flash flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Hurricane Ida pummelled through at least four states triggering torrential rains and flash floods that swept away cars, submerged subway lines, and grounded airline flights from Virginia to New England. Hundreds of flights were cancelled at LaGuardia and JFK airports, as well as at Newark, where video showed a terminal inundated by rainwater.

Flooding closed major roads across New Jersey and New York boroughs including Manhattan, The Bronx and Queens, submerging cars and forcing the fire department to rescue hundreds of people. At least 23 people died in New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy told reporters. "The majority of these deaths were individuals who got caught in their vehicles," he said.A state trooper died in the neighboring state of Connecticut. Thirteen died in New York City, including 11 who could not escape their basements, police said. The victims ranged from the ages of two to 86. Another four died in Montgomery County outside Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, a local official confirmed.

Large swaths of the affected regions still remain waterlogged as officials struggle to provide an exact rundown of the situation. Hurricane Ida, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to strike the US Gulf Coast, made landfall on Sunday in Louisiana, destroying entire communities.  Many have died in at least six Eastern States -- Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia -- after the storm brought unprecedented rainfall to some areas. Deaths have also been reported from suburban Westchester County.  Emergencies were declared for New York state, New York City, and New Jersey. The governors of the respective states have urged residents to stay home as crews worked to clear roadways and restore service to subways and commuter rail lines serving millions of residents.

By Thursday evening, around 38,000 homes in Pennsylvania, 24,000 in New Jersey and 12,000 in New York were without power, according to the website poweroutage.us, a significant decrease from earlier in the day. It is rare for such storms to strike America's northeastern seaboard and comes as the surface layer of oceans warms due to climate change. "We're all in this together. The nation is ready to help," President Joe Biden said.