A citizen is cleaning snow in Texas on the 15th (local time) after a snow storm. AP Yonhap News
The cumulative death toll has risen to at least 30 people across the United States after a record cold in 100 years.
The cold wave has resulted in various damages, including power outages of millions of households and closure of oil wells and refineries. The winter storm that struck southern regions such as Texas in the United States has withdrawn, but a new winter storm is re-formed, causing another human and property damage.
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 17th (local time), at least 31 people died due to a record cold wave in eight states including Texas.
When the power supply to millions of households was cut off due to a winter storm, residents tried to heat them using cars, propane gas, or fireplaces, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning and fire accidents, leading to increased deaths.
The day before in Houston, Texas, two people died after being poisoned by carbon monoxide after leaving a car that had been started in a garage to create warmth.
A citizen is moving firewood at a recycling center in Houston Texas on the 17th (local time). AP Yonhap News
The grandmother and three children who lived in the same area died after lighting a fireplace and leading to a fire. There have also been several cases of homeless deaths in the streets or dying from falls on ice.
In addition, as the roads were frozen, vehicle collisions and various traffic accidents occurred, and about 10 people have died so far.
Massive power outages continued due to the severe cold. In Texas, which experienced the worst’blackout’, electricity was cut off at more than 3 million homes and businesses on the 16th, and electricity for 2.7 million households has not yet been restored.
In North Carolina, a tornado killed at least 3 people and injured 10. In addition, fifty houses collapsed and residents were trapped, and power lines collapsed, resulting in power outages in thousands of households.
In Chicago, due to storms, about 45cm of snow piled up, an order of closure was declared, and Colorado fell to -42 degrees Celsius and Kansas to -25 degrees Celsius.
On the 16th (local time), a citizen is clearing up snow from a 16-inch heavy snowfall on Round Lake, Illinois. EPA Alliance
The U.S. Meteorological Administration (NWS) predicted that the winter storm, which caused great damage to people and property in the southern region, has withdrawn, but a new winter storm will sweep across the South Central and Northeast regions.
There are 100 million inhabitants in the area where the new storm warning has been issued. The Meteorological Agency predicts that the storm will affect the northeastern region on the 18th after snowing in eastern Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Reporter Bae Jae-seong [email protected]