WASHINGTON
The death toll on the US East Coast from the remnants of Hurricane Ida rose to 45 Thursday after the region was hit by record rains and dangerous floods.
The state of New Jersey reported 23 deaths from the storm, which had been tearing through the country's northeast since late Wednesday.
"The majority of these deaths were individuals who got caught in their vehicles by flooding and were overtaken by the water," New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said at a press conference.
Heavy rain swept away vehicles, flooding submerged subways and flights were grounded, according to multiple reports. New York City’s transit system was affected by flooding Wednesday, causing disruptions. The heavy storm also left more than 150,000 homes without power, according to The New York Times.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter that 13 New Yorkers died from last night’s storm, calling it "a tragic loss for our city."
Earlier, the New York Police Department said eight people were killed in New York City -- four women, three men and a 2-year-old boy.
"Our hearts ache for the lives lost in last night’s storm. Please keep them and their loved ones in your thoughts today. They were our fellow New Yorkers, and to their families, your city will be [there] for you in the days ahead," said de Blasio on Twitter.
In addition, four people were found dead Thursday at an apartment complex in Elizabeth, New Jersey as a result of flooding. Another person was pulled from a submerged vehicle that was caught in floodwaters near the Passaic River in New Jersey, according to NBC News.
Heavy rainfall turned New York City and New Jersey area streets into rivers and flooded basement and first-floor apartments, according to video footage on social media.
Late Wednesday, de Blasio declared a state of emergency after Ida caused heavy flooding in the region, saying the city was "enduring a historic weather event tonight with record breaking rain across the city, brutal flooding and dangerous conditions on our roads."
Ida made landfall in Louisiana on Sunday as a devastating Category 4 hurricane, bringing with it mass flooding and damage that devastated wide swathes of the state.
The damage is expected to cost tens of billions of dollars.
President Joe Biden voiced support Thursday for the victims of Ida.
"My message to everyone affected is we’re all in this together. The nation is here to help," Biden said in an address from the White House. "That’s the message I’ve been making clear to the mayors, governors, energy and utility leaders in the region who my administration has been working closely with over the last few days.”
Biden will travel to New Orleans on Friday "to survey storm damage from Hurricane Ida and meet with state and local leaders from impacted communities," the White House announced in a statement.
