Mamdani: 17th person dies in extreme cold in NYC
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said 17 people have died of exposure in New York City in the recent cold snap. Credit: AP/Yuki Iwamura
New York City’s cold-weather death toll has risen to 17, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Wednesday, with most of the people dying from hypothermia in the extreme cold and a massive winter storm.
All of the deaths were outside or on a subway train, with 13 of the people dying of hypothermia and three of drug overdoses, Mamdani said. An undisclosed number of the 17 people had histories of homelessness.
"Each of these lives lost is a tragedy, and my heart is with the families who mourn their loved ones," Mamdani said Wednesday at an unrelated event.
To get homeless people out of the cold, Mamdani has increased street outreach — and 1,100 people have been placed into shelters, with 20 forced to the hospital against their will after a clinician decided they were a danger to themselves, he said.
The city remains under its Code Blue designation, according to which longstanding protocols allow the authorities to force someone out of the elements.
On Long Island, the deaths of at least six people were possibly related to the cold. Most were men over 60 who had medical episodes connected to shoveling snow, according to the authorities.
A 78-year-old man who was reportedly last seen at his Baldwin senior housing complex Sunday night, was found outside the facility early Monday amid temperatures in the teens and in need of medical attention.
The man, Bruno Castro, was later pronounced dead at a hospital. The Nassau County Police Department has not released a cause of death or said if Castro died as a result of exposure.
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
Winter break is full of fun NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday Deputy Lifestyle Editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at activities to do with the family this winter break.
Winter break is full of fun NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday Deputy Lifestyle Editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at activities to do with the family this winter break.
