East Coast outages could last most of the week

WASHINGTON (KABC) -- Nearly 2 million people remained without power Monday following deadly weekend storms on the East Coast.

It was the third consecutive day residents from North Carolina to New Jersey and even states as far west as Illinois were without power. This comes as triple-digit heat continues to plague the region.

The outages left many to contend with stifling homes and spoiled food over the weekend. Utility officials say it could be several more days before electricity is fully restored.

Since Friday, severe weather has been blamed for at least 22 deaths, mostly from trees falling on homes and cars.

Officials feared the death toll could climb because of the heat and widespread use of generators, which emit fumes that can be dangerous in enclosed spaces.

The power outages are also making the work commute difficult. Traffic signals in many areas aren't working and downed trees, power lines and debris are blocking roads.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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