WEATHER | 27.08.2011

Tropical storm Irene sweeps into New York

 

New York City is facing the storm of a generation

The tropical storm Irene slammed into New Jersey and is heading for New York after causing significant damage further south. Several people have died and millions have been advised to flee.

 

The tropical storm Irene has brought high winds and driving rain to New York City as it continues to move northward along the eastern seaboard of the United States.

The storm system, which covers an area the size of western Europe, is expected to hit the city with full force early on Sunday morning local time.

New York streets are deserted after authorities ordered tens of thousands of residents to evacuate low-lying areas. Subways, airports and bus services have been shut down.

Residents have been urged to remain indoors to avoid flying debris, flooding and downed power lines.

Death toll rising

Irene made first landfall in North Carolina on Saturday. US broadcaster CNN says the death toll on the US eastern coast has now risen to ten, with five deaths in North Carolina, three in Virginia, and one each in Maryland and Florida.The hurricane has wrought havoc along the coast

More than two million households are without electricity after the storm damaged power lines.

The storm initially had been categorized as a hurricane but continued to lose power since making landfall. It is now classified as a tropical storm.

US government forecasters say the storm made a second landfall in New Jersey early on Sunday. At that point Irene was carrying sustained winds of 130 kilometers (75 miles) an hour, barely enough to qualify for hurricane status.

State of emergency

US President Barack Obama, who cut short a vacation in Massachusetts to return to Washington on Friday, has declared a state of emergency for North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, where evacuation warnings remain in place.

President Obama warned people to take precautions immediately

"Don't wait. Don't delay," Obama warned. "I cannot stress this highly enough: If you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now."

Flights cancelled

Flights to the United States from German airports were being grounded as airlines cancelled more than 7,000 flights.

German air traffic control was preparing to reschedule flights over the coming days, with the storm expected to be among the worst in living memory. Flight delays as a result of the disruption are expected to last until at least Monday.

Author: Timothy Jones (dpa, dapd, Reuters, AFP, AP)
Editor: Ben Knight

 

 

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