Superstorm Sandy smashes U.S. eastern coast

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Sandy, which made landfall in New Jersey³ early Monday evening and combined with winter storms to become a hybrid⁴ storm, has impacted 15 states. Sandy so far killed at least 29 people in eight states, according to CNN report, including 15 in New York and three in New Jersey, two of the hardest-hit area overnight. Other U.S. media outlets⁵ even put the death toll⁶ up to 33 to 35.

The death toll has risen to 10 and may continue to rise in the largest city of the country, New York city Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Tuesday at a press conference.

"This was a devastating⁷ storm, maybe the worst that we have ever experienced," said Bloomberg.

About 7 to 8 million customers across eight states have been knocked out of power by the superstorm, according to U.S. media reports.

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday declared "a major disaster" in the states of New Jersey and New York, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local recovery from Sandy.

West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin later announced that his request for a presidential emergency declaration for the state has also been granted.

A huge fire burned about 80 to 100 houses in a flooded community in Queens of New York city on Tuesday, leaving three people injured.

Surging waters driven by the fury of superstorm Sandy breached⁸ a levee in the state of New Jersey on Tuesday, forcing evacuations, local authorities said.

Obama on Tuesday called 13 governors and seven mayors from across the storm affected⁹ area, to express his concern for residents who have been and continue to be impacted by Sandy and his sadness over the loss of lives, said the White House.

Earlier Monday morning, he has got updated about superstorm Sandy's track and impact in the White House. The president told his team that the top priority was to "make sure all available resources are being provided to state and local responders as quickly as possible."

Obama also urged Americans to continue to follow the direction and advice of local officials, governors and mayors.

Heading into the final week before Election Day, U.S. President Barack Obama has to cancel Wednesday's campaign events in order to focus on the rescue and response efforts for deadly and devastating superstorm Sandy, said the White House spokesman on Tuesday.

Obama will remain in the capital on Wednesday to monitor the response to superstorm Sandy and ensure that "all federal resources continue to be provided to support ongoing¹⁰ state and local recovery efforts," said White House spokesman Jay Carney in a statement on Tuesday.

That means Obama has to cancel his planned appearance in campaign events in key swing state Ohio on Wednesday.

The incumbent¹¹ is balancing between his job and the home stretch of his re-election campaign. Due to deteriorating¹² weather conditions, Obama has already canceled planned campaign events for Monday and Tuesday to stay in the capital and closely monitor the impact of the potentially deadly hurricane.

Speaking after a televised statement on Monday noon, Obama told reporters that the campaign was not top priority now and he was not worried about the impact of the storm on his re-election bid.

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