NEW YORK, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen people have died outdoors as a cold snap gripped New York City for the past week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed on Sunday.

Preliminary findings revealed that hypothermia played a role in the deaths of eight people, local media reported.

A huge winter storm brought record amounts of snow on Jan. 25, making roads and sidewalks a slushy mess.

So far, 67 million pounds of snow have melted, and 188 million pounds of salt have been used to clear the snow, said Mamdani.

New measures were also adopted to help the homeless cope with the freezing temperatures. New single-room shelter units will be open for the homeless, while warming shelters also remain open to any people across New York City's five boroughs. There are 20 warming buses parked across the city. ■