The number of Americans who have died as a result of the powerful snowstorm that hit the country has risen to 63, while US President Joe Biden has approved the emergency declaration in New York, allowing for federal aid to be provided to the state that has been facing a snowstorm for several days.

And the American “NBC” network quoted officials as saying that the number of victims of the snow storm that hit the United States rose to 63, and the death toll in New York state alone reached 35, after 7 people were killed today, Tuesday, in the Buffalo area.

Earlier Tuesday, the US authorities said that the number of deaths due to the storm had risen to 55, amid expectations that the death toll would rise as snow continued to accumulate outside homes and rose more than two meters.

And US President Joe Biden wrote - in a tweet on Twitter yesterday, Monday - "My heart is with those who have lost their loved ones," noting that he had spoken by phone with the Governor of New York State, Cathy Hochul, and promised to provide the necessary federal resources.

Emergency crews began to check the losses of the snow storm that prevented millions of Americans from celebrating Christmas, especially in snow-covered areas of western New York.

Parts of the northeastern United States continued to face a series of severe weather events, with snow, wind and freezing temperatures sweeping across the country for several days, causing widespread power outages and thousands of flight cancellations.

The weather has led to the cancellation of more than 17,000 flights in recent days, including about 3,500 on Monday, according to FlightAware, a flight specialist.

Meteorologists predicted that snowfall would continue in the city of Buffalo, which is accustomed to difficult winter weather, and that a 35-centimeter thick layer would be added, in addition to what had accumulated for days and led to paralysis of the city and the collapse of its emergency services.

"war with nature"

For her part, the governor of New York State, Kathy Hochul, said that the state is engaged in a "war with nature," pointing out that the storm is the most destructive, and is considered the "storm of the century."

She expressed her shock at the field and road conditions after the storm broke out, adding - in press statements yesterday, Monday - that the situation is still difficult.

Hochul called on citizens to avoid leaving homes, due to the threat of snow and the fear of an increase in cars stuck on the roads, which in turn impedes relief operations and the arrival of ambulances.

The New York governor expressed her shock at what she saw during a reconnaissance tour - the day before yesterday, Sunday - in the city.

Hochul described the matter as "a war zone, and the sight of cars on both sides of the roads is shocking," noting the threat of accumulated snow - more than two meters high - homes and the residents' suffering from power outages.

Buffalo - in Erie County, which often witnesses harsh winters - is the focus of the crisis after the city was buried under thick layers of snow.

Members of the National Guard and other agencies rescued hundreds of people, who were in cars surrounded by snow and in homes without electricity, but the authorities announced that there were people still trapped.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncars said the death toll from the blizzard rose to 27 in the county on Monday, including 14 people who were found outside and 3 who were in a vehicle.

Boloncars had suggested - in a press conference held earlier - that the number of deaths in Erie would exceed the death toll from the powerful snow storm that struck Buffalo in 1977, which claimed about 30 lives.

With more snow expected and most of Buffalo's roads declared "impassable," Boloncars urged residents to stay indoors.