Storm slams into Atlantic coast, sends surge of seawater against New York

NEW YORK Superstorm Sandy slammed into the New Jersey coastline and hurled a record-breaking surge of seawater at New York City on Monday, roaring ashore and putting the presidential campaign on hold a week before Election Day. At least 10 deaths were blamed on the storm.

Sandy knocked out power to at least 5.2 million people across the U.S. East, and New York’s main utility said large sections of Manhattan had been plunged into darkness by the storm, with 250,000 customers without power as water pressed into the island from three sides, flooding rail yards, subway tracks, tunnels and roads.

Just before its centre reached land, the storm was stripped of hurricane status, but the distinction was purely technical, based on its shape and internal temperature. It still packed hurricane-force wind, and forecasters were careful to say it remained every bit as dangerous to the 50 million people in its path.

The full extent of the storm’s damage across the region was unclear, and unlikely to become known until day break. Heavy rain and further flooding remain major threats over the next couple of days as the storm makes its way into Pennsylvania and up into New York State. Near midnight, the centre of the storm was just outside Philadelphia, and its winds were down to 120 kph, just barely hurricane strength.