Two individuals tragically lost their lives in New Jersey as their vehicle was swept away by flash floods overnight. This incident comes just weeks after three others died in severe weather conditions in the same region.
The two victims, whose identities have not yet been revealed, were discovered in Plainfield late Monday following intense rainfall and flooding that hit the Mikuni area.
According to authorities, their cars were carried away over Cedarbrook during the storm, and rescue teams were unable to reach them in time.
“The community in Plainfield is grieving this latest loss,” stated Mayor Adrian O. Map.
This incident follows the death of three individuals on July 3rd, when a tree fell due to severe weather in central New Jersey. The deceased included two residents from Plainfield, ages 25 and 79, and one from North Plainfield.
“It’s difficult to understand how we could lose four residents in such a brief span,” Map expressed regarding the situation in Plainfield. “We share in the grief of the families affected and are committed to enhancing our emergency response efforts to better safeguard our community from future dangers.”
In North Plainfield, panic ensued as a family’s home caught fire and exploded while heavy rain pounded the area. This family had already evacuated their residence on Parkview Avenue due to flash flood warnings before the explosion occurred just before 11:30 p.m.
Debris from the destroyed homes was scattered across the streets late Monday, with the flooding impacting the roadway.
While the cause of the explosion remains unclear, there were reports of a gas complaint in the vicinity at that time.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy had previously declared a state of emergency in response to the severe weather, urging residents to remain indoors and to avoid unnecessary travel.
As the rain subsided overnight, most flash flood alerts had been lifted, but by early Tuesday, several roads were still submerged.
