USA More deaths in US extreme winter
More people have died in the winter storm in the USA. Citing local authorities, the newspaper "USA Today" reported at least 13 deaths in five US states since the weekend, while the broadcaster CNN reported at least eleven.
26.01.2026, 11:42
SDA
The figures quoted in the US media varied depending on how clearly the causes of death were linked to the extreme winter that has gripped large parts of North America.
According to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, five people who were found dead outdoors in the metropolis of millions at the weekend were presumed to have frozen to death. However, an official cause of death has not yet been determined.
Death by hypothermia was also considered probable in the cases of three people in the US states of Kansas, Michigan and Texas, according to the authorities. Their bodies were found - in some cases after hours of searching - in the freezing cold.
The responsible health authority in Caddo Parish in the state of Louisiana had already reported the deaths of two men from hypothermia on Sunday.
Road accidents in icy conditions - sleigh ride ends tragically
Slippery ice and storms led to serious traffic accidents and pile-ups in many places. At least two people died in the southern states of Texas and Tennessee. In Tennessee, authorities reported a total of three deaths related to the weather, although it was unclear whether the authorities' figure included traffic fatalities.
According to USA Today, the victims of the harsh winter also included a 17-year-old in the state of Arkansas, who had allowed himself to be pulled by a quad bike on a sled and crashed into a tree. According to the sheriff's office, the teenager succumbed to his serious injuries at the scene of the accident.
One of the most devastating winter storms in recent years has largely paralyzed everyday life in many regions of the USA with power outages, canceled flights and closed schools. The region is expected to remain freezing cold for the next few days.
