Fires consume 50 homes in New York City.<br/> <br />Propelled by gusts from Sandy, one of the biggest storms to hit the United States, the blaze destroyed dozens of houses in Queens.<br/> <br />Firefighters struggled through floodwater, some using boats, to reach and control the blaze.<br/> <br />The Breezy Point neighbourhood was ordered evacuated as Sandy approached and there were no immediate reports of casualties, though local media said a number of people had to be rescued.<br/> <br />In another area of the city, hundreds of patients were evacuated from New York University's medical center when its backup generator failed amid widespread power outages.<br/> <br />After wreaking havoc in the Caribbean, Sandy dropped below hurricane status before making landfall in New Jersey Monday.<br/> <br />But the storm is still causing extensive damage on the East Coast.<br/> <br />At least 13 have been reported killed and 7 million homes and business have been hit by the power outages.
