Cold weather claims more victims across Europe, thousands cut off

Feb 13, 2012, 21:17 GMT

Belgrade - Frost and snow continued to claim dozens of lives across Europe on Monday, while snow cut tens of thousands off in smaller settlements and triggered deadly avalanches.

Worst hit by a massive blizzard which hit the Balkans at the weekend was Montenegro. More snow is expected over the coming days.

Some 80 people onboard a train stuck between avalanches in a gorge in the centre of the country were hoping for rescue by helicopter on Monday, after three nights in isolation. One of the passengers died Sunday, apparently from a heart attack.

In Bosnia the roof of the 1984 Olympic ice arena collapsed under the weight of snow, as did the cover above the stands of the Zeljeznicar football stadium in Sarajevo, the Sarajevo-x news portal reported. Nobody was injured.

In Serbia, a man was swept of a road into an icy lake by an avalanche Sunday, becoming the 21st victim of the ongoing wave of cold and snow. Some 20 sailors on two barges blocked by ice on the Danube downstream from Belgrade were waiting Monday for a helicopter evacuation.

The Romanian death toll from the cold spell and storms rose by another six, to 74, the authorities said Monday. Thousands of people were cut off in the south-east.

Kosovo declared a day of mourning for the nine victims of an avalanche in the southern village of Reselice. Only one member of the family buried under the snow survived while one man was still missing.

Meanwhile in Russia severe frost meant the death toll climbed to 215, Interfax news agency reported quoting the Health Ministry. At the end of last week authorities had said 110 had died since the beginning of January.

More than 5,500 people have been treated for frostbite and hypothermia, the ministry added.

Russia is suffering the worst February in decades in some regions, according to meterologists. Moscow experienced its coldest night this winter on Sunday night, with temperatures falling to -36 degrees Celsius, the Russian national meteorological service said.

In Poland, five people had died due to the severe frosts since Sunday, bringing the death toll in February to 72, the Interior Ministry said.