Storm death toll reaches 213

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A weekend storm continued to paralyse travel in many areas of the US East coast yesterday as the death toll from one of the worst storms of the century climbed to 213.

The storm claimed at least 162 lives in the US. Five people died in Canada, three in Cuba, and three drowned in international waters off Florida. About 70 people were missing, officials said.

A M Best, an insurance industry rating agency, estimated that insured damage would climb beyond dollars 800m ( pounds 560m). Meanwhile, highway crews worked to reopen roads to thousands of people snowbound at home.