Four NYC People Trapped In Basements Found Dead After Historic Flood; State Of Emergency Declared

Four people trapped inside basements died in New York City died after flash flood water surged inside.

On Wednesday, three people in Queens and one in Brooklyn died after a deluge caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida flooded their basement and trapped them inside.

Around 12:35 a.m Thursday, a 66-year-old Brooklyn man was found dead inside the basement of his Cypress Hills apartment. Another woman in her 40s was found dead trapped inside her apartment in Grand Central Parkway near Horace Harding Expressway, reported the New York Post.

Two men aged 22 and 45 were both found dead inside the basement of their home on 183rd Street near 90th Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, reported the Post. The two victims were unconscious and unresponsive when they were found and the side wall of the building had collapsed, reported the Insider.

Family members of the deceased reached out to 911 when they could not find or reach them. The NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit responded to the residents and found the flood victims. All four victims were taken to hospitals, where they were later pronounced dead.

The downpour also reportedly led to a partial collapse of a building at 90-11 183rd St. People are reportedly trapped inside the building’s flooded basement and the New York Fire Department (FDNY) are using divers to search for survivors, reported the Insider.

The rain created a historic deluge. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency late Wednesday. "We’re enduring an historic weather event tonight with record breaking rain across the city, brutal flooding and dangerous conditions on our roads," he said on Twitter.

According to the Washington Post, about 112,600 people were without power in Pennsylvania, 82,200 in New Jersey and 51,500 in New York state.

The current weather event also marks the first time a flash flood warning was issued for the city of New York. “This particular warning for NYC is the second time we've ever issued a Flash Flood Emergency (It's the first one for NYC). The first time we've issued a Flash Flood Emergency was for Northeast New Jersey a an hour ago,” Twitted the National Weather Service, New York.