Photos: New York's homeless flock to empty subway trains

New York leaders pledged to take action against a surge of homeless people sleeping on empty subway trains during the city's coronavirus crisis. | Luis, who says he recently became homeless and lost his job, repacks his belongings on subway train as the outbreak of the coronavirus continues in New York.

Photos and video showing the homeless seeking shelter in the Big Apple's underground transit system have circulated widely on social media this week, sparking outrage. | A man sleeps on a New York subway train as the outbreak of the coronavirus continues in New York.

New York's lockdown, implemented in mid-March, has resulted in a 90 percent drop in riders, freeing up space on trains and in stations for people who sleep on the streets. | A man who is living in the New York subway system sleeps in a relatively empty station.

Social media users sympathetic to the plight of the homeless say they are forced to go underground because of a lack of other options, with cafes closed due to the lockdown.

A man who is living in the New York subway system sleeps in a relatively empty station.

A man sleeps on a New York subway train.

A man sleeps on a New York subway train.

A person sleeps on a New York subway train.

A person sleeps on a New York subway train.

A woman sleeps on a New York subway train.

A man sleeps on a New York subway train.