News - World: The death toll from a devastating winter storm has jumped by 12 in western New York, bringing the total fatalities to 25 in the region.

"In addition to the 13 confirmed deaths yesterday, the Erie County Department of Health medical examiner's office has confirmed an additional 12 deaths, bringing the total for the blizzard to 25 deaths county-wide," said Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz. "There still are probably additional deaths that will be announced later today."

He said the final toll might well surpass that of the historic blizzard of 1977, when 29 people died. "It's a very tenuous situation," he said, with large numbers of cars and even buses abandoned along roads, making passage difficult for emergency vehicles. "The city of Buffalo is impassable in most areas."

    Poloncarz, however, said, “This is not the end yet.”

He called on residents to bunker down and stay in place as an additional foot of snow (32 centimeters) is possible on Monday.

The winter storm, deemed the area's worst in 45 years, took form late on Friday and pummeled western New York through the Christmas holiday weekend. It capped an Arctic freeze and winter storm front that had extended over most of the United States for days, stretching as far south as the Mexican border.

At least 55 people have so far died nationwide since late last week, according to an NBC News tally.

Source: Press TV