Six deaths outside in New York City linked to extreme cold as officials scramble for answers.
A 52-year-old man became the sixth victim of the harsh weather this weekend when he was found dead on a Queens street Sunday morning. The man, whose identity has not been released, was discovered unconscious and unresponsive on 96th Street and 34th Avenue in North Corona, Queens. Police officers responding to a 911 call were met with a grim scene, where the victim was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed his condolences to the families of those who died outside during the extreme cold spell, warning that "the intense cold can be fatal" for those without shelter. He acknowledged the vulnerability of homeless New Yorkers, particularly in light of the city's worst cold snap in years.
According to police, five people had been found dead on Saturday alone, all discovered outside without any visible signs of struggle or foul play. On Sunday morning, an additional two individuals were discovered unconscious in different locations – one was pronounced dead at the scene, while another suffered critical injuries and later died at a city hospital.
As the death toll rises, police are working to determine if there is a common link between these tragic events. The medical examiner's office will ultimately provide the official cause of death for each victim. With temperatures plummeting below freezing both Saturday and Sunday, Mamdani urged New Yorkers to stay vigilant, warning anyone in need to call 311 or, in emergency situations, 911.
In response to the crisis, social services workers are intensifying their efforts to check on vulnerable populations, while also rerouting calls about people in need to 911. The city's "cold blue" alert system remains in place, emphasizing the urgency of this situation and the critical support needed for those most at risk.
A 52-year-old man became the sixth victim of the harsh weather this weekend when he was found dead on a Queens street Sunday morning. The man, whose identity has not been released, was discovered unconscious and unresponsive on 96th Street and 34th Avenue in North Corona, Queens. Police officers responding to a 911 call were met with a grim scene, where the victim was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed his condolences to the families of those who died outside during the extreme cold spell, warning that "the intense cold can be fatal" for those without shelter. He acknowledged the vulnerability of homeless New Yorkers, particularly in light of the city's worst cold snap in years.
According to police, five people had been found dead on Saturday alone, all discovered outside without any visible signs of struggle or foul play. On Sunday morning, an additional two individuals were discovered unconscious in different locations – one was pronounced dead at the scene, while another suffered critical injuries and later died at a city hospital.
As the death toll rises, police are working to determine if there is a common link between these tragic events. The medical examiner's office will ultimately provide the official cause of death for each victim. With temperatures plummeting below freezing both Saturday and Sunday, Mamdani urged New Yorkers to stay vigilant, warning anyone in need to call 311 or, in emergency situations, 911.
In response to the crisis, social services workers are intensifying their efforts to check on vulnerable populations, while also rerouting calls about people in need to 911. The city's "cold blue" alert system remains in place, emphasizing the urgency of this situation and the critical support needed for those most at risk.
. I mean, six deaths already? That's heartbreaking. I can only imagine how tough it must be for homeless folks who are literally forced to spend their nights on the streets during this kind of weather. We need to get some proper shelters up and running ASAP 
. And what's with the delay in getting help? Like, why did they have to wait till someone was basically frozen solid before responding? 
I feel for these families, it's just not right 
.
it's a reminder that even when we're stuck inside our homes with warm blankets, there are people out there struggling to survive in -20°c weather. mayor mamdani is right on point about the vulnerability of homeless folks, but what's going on behind the scenes? how many people actually get checked up by social services? it's easy to talk about being vigilant when you're not the one shivering on a sidewalk 
. Like, I get that it's cold outside, but is that really an excuse for people not to have access to proper shelters? 
We should be building more homes, not just temporary ones 
. And what about the ones who don't end up on the streets? Do they still count as being "at risk"? 
It's not like we're expecting a miracle, just some basic human decency and infrastructure to keep people safe during a blizzard 
.
And btw, what's with all these mysterious deaths without any visible signs of struggle or foul play? Is it just a coincidence that most of them were found outside? Need some credible sources on this one... 
I'm so worried about all these poor souls who are struggling on the streets. It's like something straight out of "The Day After Tomorrow" – you know, that movie where the polar vortex freaks out and temps plummet? 
Yeah, it feels like that right now.
I'm glad the mayor is talking about it, but like, what's being done? 
. We can't just sit around waiting for someone to die before we do something about it... that's not a solution, that's just more suffering 
This is getting out of hand! The cold snap is bad enough, but it's even worse when you think about all these people struggling on the streets without any place to go 
just hearing about all these people struggling out there is heartbreaking. I live in NYC and I gotta say, as cold as it gets sometimes, you always know where to go if you're homeless or don't have a place to stay. The city's got so many resources, but I guess they can only do so much. They need more shelters, more help for people struggling with addiction... we just need to be there for each other more. 
. This extreme cold spell is just the cherry on top of a bad situation. The data says that 1 in 5 homeless people die during winter months 
. We need more affordable housing & support services ASAP! 
Here's a rough chart to illustrate the trend: 
. 6 deaths is just crazy! It's not just about the people who have died, but also their families and loved ones who must be going through a nightmare right now 
Still, it's just so sad and frustrating at the same time.