Kiev
Extreme winter weather costs 160 lives in Europe

Published: 11:56, 2nd February 2012

160 people have died in the harsh winter weather. It has particularly affected the homeless in Eastern Europe.

Biting cold winter weather with temperatures far below the normal has so far claimed 160 lives in eastern and southern Europe.

In Ukraine, 63 died during the last week. Tens of thousands have sought refuge in the shelter from the cold down to minus 33 degrees Celsius.

This is especially the homeless, literally frozen to death.

Shivering with cold and hungry has over 40,000 Ukrainians sought help in the more than 2000 temporary tents as authorities have set up to help with warmth and a meal.

In the capital Kyiv the temperature dropped to minus 27 degrees.

Two decades after the Soviet collapse, many Ukrainians still difficult to obtain a living, and more are homeless and unable to fend for themselves.

In neighboring Poland freezing temperatures also turned on, and nine have died over the past days.

This is the total death toll in the country has risen to 29 since the cold weather really set in about a week ago.

Temperatures dropped down to minus 32 degrees in the southwestern part of the country, police said, which simultaneously confirms that most of the victims are homeless.

Heavy snowfall has subsided over large parts of Serbia and killed six people, police said.

Simultaneously, 11,500 trapped in their homes by the huge masses of snow. 70 have so far been evacuated by helicopter from areas not accessible by car.

Temperatures have topped the minus 30 degrees, and thousands were trapped in their homes especially in mountain villages.

Relief workers must use sleds to reach the remote villages where it is impossible to clear roads due to the low temperatures.

In the capital Belgrade, the temperatures remained at minus five degrees for several days, and the homeless who have not been lucky enough to get one of the only 140 seats in the city's only shelter has had to seek shelter and warmth, among other things in the city's trams.

/ REUTERS /