Hurricane Ida death toll soars as 900,000 left without power and water

At least 46 people were killed in the Gulf and northeast US, including several who died in the basement of their houses in New York area, as Hurricane Ida and its remnants wreaked uninterrupted destruction on several states in its path.

The fifth strongest hurricane storm ever and termed as a historic climate crisis event by authorities, Ida has left nearly tens of thousands impacted with no power and water connection, even as it showed signs of weakening after five days.

Major stretches across New Jersey and New York boroughs, including Manhattan, The Bronx and Queens, were closed due to flooding, forcing the fire department to rescue hundreds of people.