NEW YORK, November 3 (RIA Novosti) - New Yorkers stood in line on Saturday morning for their first supplies of gasoline, after the recovery began from the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy.
The flooding caused by the storm has interrupted electrical power supplies, preventing gas pumps in fuelling stations from operating and downed trees and floodwater blocked roads to tanker supplies.
"Yesterday at last they delivered gas. We think it's enough for today," one gas station worker on the junction of Broadway and Mosholu Avenue in the city's Bronx district told RIA Novosti. All those wanting gas had to wait in line however, he said.
Hundreds of cars tried to get to gas stations near the intersection under the watch of female police officer, as well as people on foot carrying gas containers for cars that had run out of fuel.
One of them, a taxi driver from the Dominican Republic called Victor, said he had had to walk two hours to get a container filled so he could use his car again.
"It's crazy, waiting two or three hours in line. I've been out of work two days. I hope it will be better tomorrow," he said. He had waited twice in lines on Friday but not succeeded in getting gas, he added.
Some gas stations had gas but not the electricity necessary to pump it, while others were empty. Emergency service vehicles were being filled from tanker-trucks. In the worst affected areas, gas will be given free to drivers but only a maximum five gallons (40 liters) per car.
New York authorities say movement has been restored on 80 percent of the city's subway system. Gasoline is still needed for powering generators, in the absence of mains power in some areas.
Sandy, the worst storm in the area in over a century, hit New York and the east coast at the start of this week, killing at least 110 people according to the authorities. Almost 250,000 homes remain without power in the city.
