Storm Sandy: Power and petrol shortages dog recoveryNearly a million people in New York state remain without power after Storm Sandy, as frustration grows over the slow pace of recovery.

US President Barack Obama said restoring power was "critical for us".

Mayor Michael Bloomberg lashed out at Long Island's power utility, saying it had not acted "aggressively enough" to resupply areas left in the dark.

Officials in storm-hit states are also checking whether polling stations can open for Tuesday's presidential vote.

At least 106 deaths have been blamed on Sandy in the US, 40 of them in New York City.

The death toll was revised upwards as state officials released new figures on Saturday afternoon. The death toll in the state of New Jersey was put at 22.

The storm had also killed 69 people as it swept across the Caribbean last week.