Order to evacuate New York defended by mayor

New York’s mayor defended the massive evacuation of the city in the face of tropical storm Irene – which was downgraded from hurricane status – after the order to leave was lifted last night.

Michael Bloomberg had told hundreds of thousands to quit their homes as the weather system approached the city, but New York was spared the destruction some had predicted.

Mr Bloomberg said precautions – which included shutting down the city’s transit system, closing airports and postponing sports events – had been right and that it would have been unwise to “hope for the best”.

Last night, the death toll from the storm, which had already battered much of the US east coast, stood at 11.