New York declares state of emergency after flash flooding

New York City authorities have declared a state of emergency after torrential rain caused flooding in some parts of the city on Friday.

"I am declaring a State of Emergency across New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley due to the extreme rainfall we're seeing throughout the region. Please take steps to stay safe and remember to never attempt to travel on flooded roads," said Governor Kathy Hochul on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Various media outlets along with residents of the city posted videos showing the extent of the flooding in a number of locations.

Roads in the country's most populous city turned into rivers as heavy rainfall pummelled the metropolitan area.

The National Weather Service (NWS) had issued flash flood warnings in parts of the city after forecasts predicted heavy to excessive rainfall across parts of the Northeast, including New York City.

NWS meteorologist Zack Taylor said that as much as 6 inches of rain fell in some locations, including Brooklyn, lower Manhattan and John F. Kennedy International Airport in the borough of Queens.

"More rain is falling," Taylor said, and warned: "This is seriously a life-threatening situation."