Ankara: At least 18 people died in New York City during a cold snap over the weekend, with one additional fatality reported since Friday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

According to Anadolu Agency, the mayor stated, "Since Friday's press conference, one additional New Yorker lost their life on the streets of our city as a result of this cold snap. The total lives lost is now 18." He expressed condolences for the victims' families, emphasizing the tragedy of each loss.

The city has taken action by making 1,400 placements in shelters and safe havens to address the dangerous weather conditions. Mayor Mamdani highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that the weekend brought the coldest temperatures of the winter, colder than some regions in Antarctica.

He urged residents to stay safe by remaining indoors and encouraged community vigilance: "Stay safe, stay indoors, and please, New York, let's keep looking out for one another."

Nearly 80 million people along the US East Coast faced the arctic blast, with Sunday morning marking the coldest conditions of the season. The National Weather Service announced that New York temperatures, which have stayed below freezing, are expected to rise this week.