Kathy Hochul, the governor of New York, has declared a state of emergency after strong storms triggered flash flooding on Friday.

Hochul announced on X that the state of emergency would cut across New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.

“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,” Hochul wrote.

“Please take steps to stay safe and remember to never attempt to travel on flooded roads.”

The flash floods have caused roads to be closed and public transit has been delayed or suspended in many areas.

Many of the city’s subway systems, streets and highways have been flooded, while at least one terminal at LaGuardia Airport has been closed.

Hochul described the storm which triggered the flood as dangerous and life-threatening and urged residents not to attempt travelling on flooded roads.

Officials said they have conducted at least six rescues of residents trapped in flooded basements, but there have been no reports of deaths or critical injuries.

The rain and flooding are expected to continue for the rest of the day.

Hochul said state agencies are coordinating closely with local governments and providing resources needed to address the extreme weather event.

She added that flood rescue teams are in impacted areas ready to support local responders.

A suicide bomb blast has killed no fewer than 50 people in Pakistan.

The blast happened near a mosque in the southwestern province of Balochistan on Friday.

Burkina Faso’s military junta announced on Wednesday that a coup attempt had been thwarted the previous day by security and intelligence services, without providing specifics on what had happened according to multiple reports. 

In a statement, it declared that officers and others had conspired to destabilize the country with “the dark intention of attacking the institutions of the Republic and plunging our country into chaos.” 

The junta did not identify anyone but mentioned that some arrests had been made, and searches were ongoing for others. It emphasized, “Investigations will help unmask the instigators of this plot.” 

The military prosecutor later revealed that four individuals had been detained, and two were currently evading capture. In a statement, it announced that an investigation had been initiated on Wednesday based on “credible allegations about a plot against state security implicating officers.” 

Additionally, the junta took action on Monday by suspending the French news magazine Jeune Afrique for publishing “untruthful” articles that reported tension and discontent within Burkina Faso’s armed forces. 

Junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré seized power on September 30, 2022, marking the landlocked country’s second coup in eight months. Both takeovers were partly driven by discontent over failures to contain a rampant jihadist insurgency that had infiltrated from neighbouring Mali in 2015.