"Destructive, Like a Battlefield" Winter Storm Hits US, At Least 41 Dead

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] "The storm is destructive. It feels like a battlefield." A winter storm accompanied by severe cold, heavy snow, and strong winds hit the United States during the Christmas holiday, causing power outages, traffic disruptions, and casualties. At least 41 people have been reported dead across the country.

On Christmas Day, December 25 (local time), local media such as NBC and CNN reported that the aftermath of the winter abnormal weather phenomenon known as the "bomb cyclone" sweeping the U.S. is widespread, extending from the Canadian Great Lakes to the Mexican border, with damages occurring one after another.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

According to NBC News' own tally, as of Sunday evening, at least 41 people died in 12 states including Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. The Associated Press reported that the winter storm claimed at least 34 lives.

Among the states, Buffalo, New York, which received snowfall reaching 110 cm, has reported multiple deaths. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said at a press conference that day, "It is destructive. It feels like a battlefield," and announced that the number of storm-related deaths had risen to 12 as of 5 p.m.

According to the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS), as of 7 a.m. that day, the snowfall at Buffalo Niagara International Airport was measured at 109 cm. In this area, due to heavy snow and strong winds, about 500 drivers were stranded on the roads in a snowstorm from the night of the 23rd to the morning of the 24th. The Associated Press reported that "rescue workers were unable to transport patients to hospitals" and that "some people were trapped in their cars for more than two days," describing the situation at the time.

In Ohio, where a 50-car pileup occurred, 10 people died from various accidents. In Colorado, homeless people were found dead due to subzero cold. Missouri, Kansas, and Kentucky also reported six deaths from traffic collisions and other accidents.

The NWS warned, "Due to the severe cold and dangerously low wind chill temperatures, travelers stranded, outdoor workers, livestock, and pets are at risk of life-threatening conditions," adding, "In some areas, frostbite can occur within minutes of exposure outdoors." During this holiday period, 60% of the U.S. population received winter cold warnings and advisories, and most regions experienced a sharp drop in temperatures compared to previous years. Tampa, Florida, recorded below-freezing temperatures for the first time in five years.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Flight cancellations due to heavy snow and ice continue. According to FlightAware, more than 3,300 domestic and international flights in the U.S. were canceled that afternoon. Flight delays reached 11,000 flights in a single day. NBC reported that "travelers trying to return home for Christmas were stranded." The Associated Press expressed concern that "the cold weather problems are likely to continue."

Reports of power outages and related concerns have also been widespread. The scale of outages reached 1.7 million households at one point on Christmas Eve, but recovery efforts have reduced this to about 200,000 households as of 2 p.m. that day. The power outage situation is most severe in the New England region, including Maine. National Grid, which provides services to New York and Massachusetts, requested customers to reduce natural gas usage from the previous day through that day. In Jackson, Mississippi, water pipes burst due to the cold snap.

The NWS stated, "The situation will gradually improve," but warned that the effects of the cold wave will remain across most of the country for the time being.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.