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| Dozens die in Ukraine's cold snap | Dozens die in Ukraine's cold snap |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 83 people have died in Ukraine from a cold spell that has been gripping the country, officials say. | |
| Temperatures as low as -23C (-9F) and heavy snowfall this month have left the capital Kiev and most of the country under a thick frozen layer. | Temperatures as low as -23C (-9F) and heavy snowfall this month have left the capital Kiev and most of the country under a thick frozen layer. |
| In western areas, vehicles were trapped in a three-day traffic jam stretching at one point about 20km (12 miles). | In western areas, vehicles were trapped in a three-day traffic jam stretching at one point about 20km (12 miles). |
| The severe weather is also affecting neighbouring Bulgaria and Romania, where six people have reportedly died. | The severe weather is also affecting neighbouring Bulgaria and Romania, where six people have reportedly died. |
| Meteorologists warn that the cold snap in the region could continue and temperatures may drop even further. | Meteorologists warn that the cold snap in the region could continue and temperatures may drop even further. |
| 'Heating shelters' | 'Heating shelters' |
| On Friday, a senior official from Ukraine's health ministry said that 83 people were now known to have died from the cold. Most of the victims had been found on the streets. | |
| Volodymyr Yurchenko also said that more than 500 people were still being treated in hospitals across the country. | |
| Nearly 100 towns and villages across the country remain without electricity, and emergency crews are continuing their work to try to restore power. | |
| Army units have also been deployed to help clear the snow on major motorways. | Army units have also been deployed to help clear the snow on major motorways. |
| Thousands of "heating shelters" have been set up where those in need - particularly the homeless and the elderly - can receive a hot meal and a warm place to sleep. | Thousands of "heating shelters" have been set up where those in need - particularly the homeless and the elderly - can receive a hot meal and a warm place to sleep. |
| But the authorities have been criticised for being slow to react to the adverse weather. | But the authorities have been criticised for being slow to react to the adverse weather. |
| Not everyone is taken care of, critics say, and a number of homeless people know nothing about the emergencies shelters. | Not everyone is taken care of, critics say, and a number of homeless people know nothing about the emergencies shelters. |
| "I sleep in the cellar of an abandoned building. I have a roof over my head and nothing else," Dima, a homeless man in Kiev, told the BBC. | "I sleep in the cellar of an abandoned building. I have a roof over my head and nothing else," Dima, a homeless man in Kiev, told the BBC. |
| Last winter, more than 100 people died from the cold in Ukraine. | Last winter, more than 100 people died from the cold in Ukraine. |
| Have you been affected by the severe cold weather in Ukraine? Please get in touch using the form below. | Have you been affected by the severe cold weather in Ukraine? Please get in touch using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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