New York-Sana
At least 17 people were killed by Hurricane Ida, which hit the New York area and caused unprecedented torrential rains, prompting the authorities to declare a state of emergency.
The record rainfall led to the closure of major roads in several neighborhoods, including Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens, and the closure of subway and rail stations, and hundreds of flights were canceled at LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports, in addition to Newark, whose buildings sank with water.
A state of emergency was declared in New York and New Jersey, while the National Weather Service issued the first-ever flash flood warning in New York City, calling on residents to head for heights.
About 98,000 homes were out of power in Pennsylvania, 60,000 in New Jersey and 40,000 in New York.
"We are together in the face of the hurricane and the country is ready to help," US President Joe Biden said before a visit to Louisiana, where Hurricane Ida earlier destroyed buildings and cut power to more than a million homes.
Nine people were killed in New York City, including eight who were unable to escape from the basements of buildings in Queens and Brooklyn, according to police, and four people were killed in New Jersey, one in Passaic and three people in Montgomery County in Pennsylvania.
"Among the people most at risk during flash floods are those who live in informal homes on basements that do not comply with the safety standards necessary to rescue them," said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
"These are working class, immigrants, low-income people and their family members," Cortez added.
Hurricane Ida earlier hit the southern US state of Louisiana, causing major floods and hurricanes, while leaving devastation in the north.
The northeastern coast of the United States rarely experiences storms like this, and the storm comes as ocean surface temperatures rise due to climate change.