New York City's Bitter Cold Snap Claims 16 Lives, Mayor Announces

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NEW YORK — The death toll linked to the extended period of dangerously cold weather gripping New York City has risen to 16, Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed Monday. The city remains under a "Code Blue" emergency declaration, now in its third week, as it endures what may be a record-breaking stretch of sub-freezing temperatures.

At a February 2nd press conference, Mayor Mamdani stated that preliminary investigations point to hypothermia as a factor in 13 of the fatalities, while three others are suspected to be overdose-related. None of the deceased, he noted, were found to have been living in homeless encampments. Final determinations are pending from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

"Each of these lives lost is a tragedy. My heart is with the families of those mourning their loved ones," Mamdani said, his voice heavy. "We are facing a prolonged and severe weather event. The greatest danger right now is to our most vulnerable neighbors who remain exposed to the elements."

The cold crisis, triggered by Winter Storm Fern and sustained by an Arctic air mass, has seen 11 consecutive days with temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. "We could very well be in the middle of the longest period of consecutive sub-32-degree weather in our city's entire history," the Mayor added, underscoring the unprecedented nature of the freeze.

In response, city agencies have executed over 930 placements into shelters or safe havens. Officials have also involuntarily transported 18 individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. To expand capacity, fifty new single-room shelter units are being opened, alongside 20 mobile warming centers deployed across the five boroughs.

"Every single person will be cared for. No one will be turned away," Mamdani pledged.

The fatalities have occurred sporadically throughout the crisis. The Medical Examiner's office previously reported six deaths overnight on January 23rd, another the following night, and a 90-year-old woman found deceased in Brooklyn on January 26th.

/// PUBLIC REACTION ///

We spoke to New Yorkers for their take on the city's handling of the crisis:

Michael Torres, Social Worker, The Bronx: "The outreach teams are doing heroic work, but the scale of this is overwhelming. We've known this cold wave was coming for days. Seeing the death toll tick up daily is a brutal indicator that our safety net still has gaping holes, especially for the mentally ill and chronically unhoused."

Councilwoman Elena Vance, Manhattan: "The Mayor's commitment to 'no one turned away' is the right standard. The rapid deployment of mobile units and new shelter beds is a critical step. This is a stark reminder that housing is, fundamentally, a matter of public health and survival."

David Chen, Small Business Owner, Queens: "It's a disgrace. Sixteen people are dead in one of the wealthiest cities on the planet. We have empty buildings and billions in budgets. This isn't an act of God; it's a failure of policy and political will. People are freezing to death on the streets—what more of a wake-up call do we need?"

Reverend Sarah Miller, Brooklyn Homeless Advocacy Group: "The complexity here is immense. For some, distrust of the system runs deep, and forced removal is traumatic. The city must pair immediate shelter with long-term, supportive housing solutions. A warming center is a reprieve, not a resolution."

Read the original report on People.