NEW YORK — Two men died in flooded basements Thursday as torrential rain pounded New York City, shutting down roads, flooding subway stations, and delaying flights across the region.
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In Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood, 39-year-old Aaron Akaberi was found dead in the flooded basement of a three-story townhouse on Kingston Avenue near Rutland Road. Firefighters and police from the NYPD’s 71st Precinct responded around 4:30 p.m. after reports of a man trapped in rising water. FDNY scuba divers pulled Akaberi from the basement, and he was pronounced dead at Kings County Hospital.
Neighbors said Akaberi had gone into the basement to rescue his dog before drowning. Videos shared online showed firefighters carrying his body through knee-deep water.
Akaberi was known locally as a controversial figure. Residents accused him of selling drugs to neighborhood youth, and he had been barred from entering 770 Eastern Parkway — Lubavitch World Headquarters — where a posted sign warned that he and others were prohibited from the premises.
In Manhattan, a 43-year-old man was found dead in a flooded boiler room of an apartment building. The cause of death remains under investigation.
Thursday’s relentless rainfall set new records across the city. Central Park recorded 1.8 inches of rain — surpassing the 1917 record of 1.64 inches — while LaGuardia Airport saw 1.97 inches, breaking a 1955 record. Flooding was reported in all five boroughs, with water pouring into subway stations and vehicles stranded at submerged intersections.
“When you look at the amount of water that was coming down, our sewer systems are just not built to handle that,” Mayor Eric Adams told 1010 WINS. “It was a steady rain throughout.”
The storm once again highlighted the dangers of basement apartments, which serve as low-cost housing for thousands of New Yorkers. In 2021, eleven people drowned in similar conditions during flooding from Hurricane Ida.
NYC: Multiple people stuck in cars on cross island Parkway in Queens.
Fatal flood victim was found in Brooklyn basement. pic.twitter.com/eeVA7nYVNI
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) October 30, 2025
Cars floating in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn.pic.twitter.com/erz3cK7L8j
— NYScanner (@nyscanner) October 30, 2025
In my humble opinion I don’t think it’s appropriate to show a video like this, it’s one thing when you see a stretcher with a body bag, but seeing a body being pulled out like that is not right and fair to the family, Jew or non jew.
What the media puts out we can’t control but it shouldn’t be on a Jewish site.
I know Adams is on his way out, but how many times can the Mayor say our sewer systems weren’t built to handle it or similar excuses?
Anyone remember when water & sewer was actually free in NYC?
And after collecting for decades, they still can’t upgrade this antiquated, overloaded drainage system?
Is it really necessary to include the lashon hara about his being a shady figure? Is that really an important part of the story of a man drowning trying to save his dog??
Of they are unlicensed apts then the owners should be charged with manslaughter
I hope they saved the dog
why couldnt askanim help this Yid? isnt lubavitch known for loving ALL yidden how can they bar a Yid from shul?