Hurricane Sandy leaves wake of devastation as storm hits eastern US

Hurricane Sandy has wreaked havoc on North America’s eastern seaboard and at least 16 people have been reported killed in the largest storm in 70 years to strike the East Coast of America.

New York has been overwhelmed with record levels of floodwater, blacking out power for more than six million and bringing transportation to a halt. 

Sandy, which was just below hurricane level as it hit the gambling resort of Atlantic City in New Jersey, tore through the city with devastating effect. As it made its way to New York it brought a record flow of almost 14 feet of water all the way to downtown Manhattan. 

Torrential waters managed to get into the city’s subway system, overflowing its underground tunnels.

It is likely that the city will be in a state of chaos for days to come, as the clean-up operation on a major scale takes place. 

Elsewhere, more than one million people across different states up and down the East Coast of North America were requested to evacuate as the Hurricane blew westward towards huge population centres of Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington DC. Heavy snows were also seen in mountainous regions further inland.

One insurance advisor has suggested that economic losses from the Hurricane could ultimately reach $20billion, with only half of the population being insured. 

President Obama placed the area on a national state of emergency and even financial markets, which are usually bustling with life, ceased trading. 

With only eight days to go before the election, President Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney have cancelled campaign events as the East side of the nation tries to get back on its feet.  

Alexander Clackson