Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney dive back into campaigning on Thursday after the president put politics aside to spend three days managing the federal response to the superstorm that battered the east coast of the US.

The misery inflicted by superstorm Sandy intensified today as millions along the US East Coast faced life without power or transport for days to come.

Huge swathes of New York have been left deserted and dark after America’s largest city suffered the full force of Superstorm Sandy.

Up to 100 homes have been destroyed by a huge fire in a the flooded New York area of Queens.

The stormy conditions on the US east coast are having a knock-on effect on some travel schedules here.

President Obama has declared a "major disaster" in New York and Long Island after superstorm Sandy swept across the east coast of America, killing at least 16 people.

Superstorm Sandy disrupted the US presidential race as President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney both cancelled campaign events.

A fire has destroyed at least 50 homes in a flooded neighbourhood in the New York City borough of Queens, officials said today.

At least 13 people have been killed in the US and millions are without power after Superstorm Sandy slammed into the New Jersey coastline and hurled a record-breaking 13ft surge of seawater at New York City.