At least 14 dead as blizzard paralyses US East Coast

Ten states declared an emergency after several feet of snow disrupted life and grounded more than 7,000 flights.

Jan 24, 2016 · 08:08 am Updated Jan 24, 2016 · 09:15 am

At least 14 dead as blizzard paralyses US East Coast — A person sweeps snow from a sidewalk after a snowstorm January 23, 2016 in Washington, DC. A deadly blizzard blanketed the eastern United States in near-record amounts of snow Saturday, shutting down New York and Washington in a colossal storm expected to affect more than 85 million people. More than 4,400 flights were cancelled as the mega-storm brought airports in New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore to a halt, shuttered transport in the US capital and prompted New York officials to issue a sweeping travel ban. / AFP / Brendan Smialowski | AFP

A massive blizzard intensified along the United States’ East Coast late Saturday and early Sunday, leaving at least 14 people dead. Several areas received more than two feet of snow, and the storm is expected to rage on through Sunday. National capital Washington DC could receive a record 30 inches of snowfall before the blizzard dies down, the BBC reported.

At least 10 states declared an emergency, after the storm caused massive pile-ups on the highways, grounded more than 7,000 flights and kept people locked up at home without power.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the situation was rapidly getting worse, while Baltimore banned all non-emergency vehicles through Sunday morning, and Washington’s transport system is expected to be closed all Sunday. Glengarry in West Virginia registered the highest snowfall – 40 inches.

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