As flash floods inundated New York City, Mayor Eric Adams said: “If you’re home, stay home.” But for those living in below-ground apartments in basements and cellars, that was not an option.

An estimated 100,000 New Yorkers reside in a vast network of illegal basement dwellings that the impacts of climate change are remaking into “death traps”.

When Hurricane Ida hit the city two years ago, 11 such residents died.

On Friday, city officials said at least six had to be rescued amid the floods.

A “number of calls” had come in seeking help related to flooding basements, fire department commissioner Laura Kavanagh said at a storm briefing.

Read more: bbc.com

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