Buffalo blizzard death toll rises to 25 as snowstorm continues to batter New York State

The snow-related death toll from the weekend blizzard in the greater Buffalo area of New York has risen to 25, authorities in Erie County announced on Monday. As massive snow drifts across the country cancelled flights and endangered roads over the holiday, the total is up from 13 deaths the day before.

“I have to offer, once again, my deepest condolences to all the family members, friends and loved ones,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said. “There are probably individuals who have not yet been notified that their loved one has perished and I just want to say this is a horrible situation. This may actually be now more deaths than occurred during the blizzard of ‘77.”

Poloncarz also criticized the “horrible” reports of looting that has happened amid the rising death toll and has urged people not to call the snow hotline or 911 unless there is a serious issue or life-threatening emergency, as the queue has been filled up with non-urgent information inquiries regarding the weather or food delivery.

Most roads in Buffalo are impassable as huge snow drifts up to 10-feet high have blocked roads and trapped people in their homes. Abandoned cars, tractor-trailers and buses litter the city roads and officials say another foot of snow could fall in Erie County through early Tuesday afternoon.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/9373377/u-s-deadly-winter-storm-extreme-cold-travel-chaos/

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