2 Die as Extreme Cold Grips US Louisiana

Two people have died in the US state of Louisiana after suffering severe hypothermia as an intense cold wave sweeps across the region, state health officials said on Sunday.

The Louisiana Department of Health said the deaths occurred in Caddo Parish, where the local coroner confirmed that two men died as a result of dangerously low body temperatures. The department said no further details would be released.

A winter weather system brought freezing rain to northern and central parts of Louisiana late on Saturday, while temperatures are expected to remain below freezing statewide until Tuesday morning, increasing risks to public safety and infrastructure.

Health authorities urged residents vulnerable to cold exposure to seek warming centres in their communities, noting that locations are available through the state’s emergency management website.

The deaths come as at least 21 US states have declared states of emergency due to a powerful winter storm affecting large parts of the country, leading to the cancellation of thousands of flights and widespread travel disruption.

The storm system is impacting more than 180 million people from New Mexico to Maine. Forecasters warn of heavy snowfall of up to 12 inches across the Ohio Valley and the East Coast, as well as significant ice accumulation that threatens roads, power supplies and essential services.