Scores die as eastern Europe freezes

A severe cold spell in eastern Europe has left at least 58 people dead over the past week, including dozens who were homeless. Hundreds have sought medical help for hypothermia and frostbite, while snow and ice disrupted traffic, cut off power and forced schools to close.

Temperatures have plunged to -27C in some parts of the region, with Ukraine among the hardest hit countries. As many as 30 people have died on its streets, in hospitals and in their own homes from the cold weather in the past four days.

In Poland, five people died of hypothermia in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll from the cold to 15 in the past four days.

AP