A massive ice storm, the worst in the past ten years, has hit north-eastern United States leaving more than 1 million people without electricity. Authorities declared the state of emergency in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and in parts of Maine and New York state.

Several crews have been deployed to deal with the problems and authorities said the electricity may be totally restored in several days.

The ice storm is believed to have made victims as well. At least four people are thought to have died as a result. Authorities recovered the body of a public works supervisor from a reservoir in Marlborough, Massachusetts. A man in Danville, New Hampshire, died of carbon monoxide poisoning after the generator that was heating his camper van malfunctioned. Two other people, a couple, died of gas poisoning in Glenville, New York.

Many people were left with no alternative but to leave their homes for shelters after temperatures dipped into the teens Fahrenheit on from Friday to Saturday.

“I think people have to assume that power will not come back today and seek shelter," New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch said.

Authorities said that about 1.4 million homes and businesses were left without power in the four most affected, aforementioned states. By Saturday, the number of homes left without electric power was reduced to about 1 million. The worst affected state was New Hampshire, where about 300,000 homes were left in the dark.

"If you don't have power, assume that you will not get it restored today, and right now make arrangements to stay someplace warm tonight," Gov. Lynch said. The state’s largest utility company, Public Service of New Hampshire, described the damage caused by the ice storm as “extensive.”