Hurricane Ida death toll in the U.S. Northeast rises to at least 50 victims

Hurricane Ida’s death toll in the U.S. Northeast rose on Sunday to at least 50 folks, with many holding out hope for the lacking in the floodwaters and Pope Francis calling on these affected by the catastrophe to be sturdy.

New York had 17 confirmed deaths, 4 in Westchester County and the the rest in New York City, the place practically all the victims have been trapped in unlawful basement residences which can be amongst the final remaining reasonably priced choices for low-income residents in the space, a spokesperson for Governor Kathy Hochul stated.

In New Jersey, there have been 27 confirmed storm deaths and 4 folks nonetheless lacking, stated a spokesperson for Governor Phil Murphy.

Among the lacking have been two school college students final seen in Passaic, New Jersey, on Wednesday as Ida’s historic deluge was reported to have swept them away in the floodwaters of the raging Passaic River.

A pupil mass was known as on Sunday at Seton Hall University in South Orange for Nidhi Rana, a first-year commuter pupil from Passaic who was final seen along with her buddy Ayush Rana, a Montclair State University pupil, as the water rushed round his automobile.

“Join me in holding Nidhi and Ayush in your prayers for his or her protected return,” Seton Hall President Joseph Nyre stated in a letter to college students.

Neither the Passaic Police nor the Fire Department instantly responded to Reuters’ requests for extra info.

Other Northeast states the place storm deaths have been reported included Connecticut with at least one lifeless, Pennsylvania with at least 4 lifeless and Maryland with at least one lifeless.

Louisiana’s governor on Saturday elevated the variety of storm deaths in his Gulf Coast state to 12 folks killed after Ida made landfall there on Aug. 29 as a Category four hurricane, downing timber, energy traces and particles with wind gusts that reached 172 miles per hour (276 kph). learn extra

Hundreds of 1000’s of individuals in the state remained in the darkish.

The Grand Classica, a cruise ship that may home 1,500 employees attempting to restore energy, departed from the Port of Palm Beach on Saturday and is due to arrive in New Orleans on Tuesday beneath a constitution settlement with Entergy Corp., the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line stated.

Pope Francis supplied his condolences to Ida victims at his Sunday blessing in St. Peter’s Square.

“May the Lord welcome the souls of the lifeless and provides energy to those that are affected by this calamity,” the Pope stated.