Ukraine's cold wave toll reaches 100

Zimbabwe Star (IANS) Friday 3rd February, 2012

A total of 101 people have died so far in Ukraine due to severe cold weather, with 38 succumbing in the past 24 hours till Friday evening, authorities said.

The emergencies ministry said 64 people were found dead on streets, 26 in their homes and 11 died in hospitals over the past seven days.

Most of the victims were homeless who got drunk and fell asleep outdoors, Xinhua reported. Over 1,590 people have been hospitalized with hypothermia and frostbite.

Schools and nurseries in the former Soviet republic were closed as temperatures are forecast to drop to minus 35 degrees Celsius in the next five days.

The authorities have set up 2,940 shelters with hot tea and food for the poor.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov asked hospitals not to discharge homeless patients even if their treatment is finished to protect them from the cold.

The cold snap also caused power outages and blocked traffic in most parts of the country.