Death Toll Rising, Homes Destroyed, Power Outages Remain As Ida Exits NJ

NORTH JERSEY — Ida left at least 23 New Jerseyans dead, according to Gov. Phil Murphy. People lost homes, streets remain flooded and public transportation has been hampered.

The majority of deaths were people who got caught in their vehicles by flooding and were overtaken by water, according to Murphy.

Four people were found dead in an Elizabeth apartment complex, according to nj.com. At least 600 residents in the Oakwood Plaza apartment complex were displaced because of flooding, Mayor Chris Bollwage said Thursday.

Another four people died in flooded waters while trapped in vehicles in Bridgewater and Hillsborough, said Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Spokesman Frank Roman. Officials continue to get reports of missing people. Read more: 4 Killed In Hillsborough, Bridgewater During Ida Flooding

The floods also killed a 70-year-old Clifton man in Passaic after his car became engulfed, according to northjersey.com. At least two others in Passaic went missing, according to multiple reports.

Additionally, a man's body was found floating in Union Township. Read more: Union Man Drowns In Ida Flood Waters After Car Gets Stuck

More coverage:

• Search For Woman Missing In Bridgewater Flood Waters
• Power Of Flood On Full Display In The Caldwells (VIDEOS)
• Westfield Flood Rescues: 3 From School Rooftop, Child From Car
• Hoboken Flooding The Day After Ida: PHOTOS
• Summit Cleans Up After Ida; Schools Close 1 Day
• Legendary Yankee Broadcaster John Sterling Rescued From NJ Flood

"It's been a sadly tragic and historic 24 hours in New Jersey," Murphy said as he stood in front of one of at least nine homes that was destroyed in Mullica Hill, Gloucester County, Wednesday night. "This is going to take us some time to dig out of. We're going to stay here, and be by the side of the residents and the small businesses that have been impacted so severely."

Much of North Jersey saw at least 6 inches of rain. Newark had its wettest calendar day on record (90 years), according to The Weather Channel's Mike Seidel. The Gateway City had 7.36 inches of rain through 10 p.m., with 6.42 inches falling from 7-10 p.m.

The flooding reached the inside of the Newark Liberty International Airport.

The weather has disrupted flights at the airport, which advised people to check with their airline on flight statusus. New Jersey Transit halted all rail service except for the Atlantic City line. Light rail services and buses began reinstituting limited transportation. Read more: NJ Transit Rail Service Suspended Almost Everywhere After Ida

Bergen County declared a local state of emergency, with municipalities bordering the Hackensack and Saddle Rivers hit particularly hard with flooding. Those communities include Lodi, Wallington, Hackensack, Rochelle Park and Saddle Brook in particular, according to County Communications Director Derek Sands. Read more: 1 House Explodes, 1 Still On Fire In 8 Feet Of Water In Manville

Several properties faced destruction, including a house that exploded in Manville, Somerset County. On Wednesday night, another house exploded in Somerville. Both of the explosions are believed to have been caused by gas leaks because of floodwaters, Roman said.

More than 100 residents across the county have been evacuated. Read more: Over 100 Residents Evacuated As Rivers Swell In Bergen County

About 50,000 remain without power as of 1 p.m. Thursday. The outages include about 16,000 PSE&G customers in Essex County. Jersey Central Power & Light reported about 7,700 outages in Sussex County and 6,477 in Morris County.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation advised people to stay off roads so crews and emergency personnel could continue their work.

Murphy visited Mullica Hill, Gloucester County, where Ida damaged several homes. The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado hit the area, with debris lofted thousands of feet in the air.

The National Weather Service confirmed a second tornado occurred Wednesday in Edgewater Park, Burlington County. Winds peaked at 90 mph.

Murphy, who declared a state of emergency Wednesday night, spoke with President Joe Biden and said he will request an expedited Major Disaster Declaration. FEMA last declared a major disaster in New Jersey during the major snowstorm that hit late January and early February.

With reporting from Alexis Tarrazi, Karen Wall and Montana Samuels/Patch Staff