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| Europe freeze: Serbia snow strands thousands | Europe freeze: Serbia snow strands thousands |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Heavy snow has left at least 11,000 villagers cut off in remote areas of Serbia amid a European cold snap that has claimed more than 130 lives. | Heavy snow has left at least 11,000 villagers cut off in remote areas of Serbia amid a European cold snap that has claimed more than 130 lives. |
| At least six people have died in Serbia, with emergency services expressing concern for the health of the sick and the elderly in particular. | At least six people have died in Serbia, with emergency services expressing concern for the health of the sick and the elderly in particular. |
| Temperatures are below -30C (-22F) in parts of Europe and 63 people have died in Ukraine and 29 in Poland. | Temperatures are below -30C (-22F) in parts of Europe and 63 people have died in Ukraine and 29 in Poland. |
| In Italy, weather experts say it is the coldest week for 27 years. | In Italy, weather experts say it is the coldest week for 27 years. |
| Emergency services in Serbia have described the situation, close to the country's south-western borders with Kosovo and Montenegro, as very serious. | Emergency services in Serbia have described the situation, close to the country's south-western borders with Kosovo and Montenegro, as very serious. |
| In places, the snow has reached a depth of 2m (6ft 6in). Fourteen municipalities are affected, emergency official Predrag Maric told the BBC. | In places, the snow has reached a depth of 2m (6ft 6in). Fourteen municipalities are affected, emergency official Predrag Maric told the BBC. |
| Helicopters have helped move several people to safety, and food and medicines have been airlifted to isolated areas. | Helicopters have helped move several people to safety, and food and medicines have been airlifted to isolated areas. |
| Snow began falling in Serbia on 7 January and has hardly stopped since, says BBC correspondent Nick Thorpe. Serbian media say further snow is expected in the coming days. | Snow began falling in Serbia on 7 January and has hardly stopped since, says BBC correspondent Nick Thorpe. Serbian media say further snow is expected in the coming days. |
| Ukraine has seen the highest number of fatalities, many of them homeless. Over a 24-hour period, as many as 20 people died. | Ukraine has seen the highest number of fatalities, many of them homeless. Over a 24-hour period, as many as 20 people died. |
| Food shortages have been reported in the capital, Kiev, because lorries have been unable to transport supplies. | Food shortages have been reported in the capital, Kiev, because lorries have been unable to transport supplies. |
| Trapped overnight | Trapped overnight |
| Heavy snow has also caused widespread disruption in northern and central Italy. | Heavy snow has also caused widespread disruption in northern and central Italy. |
| More than 600 passengers were trapped on an unheated train in the Apennine mountains for seven hours on Wednesday night, when the brakes and electrical cables froze. | More than 600 passengers were trapped on an unheated train in the Apennine mountains for seven hours on Wednesday night, when the brakes and electrical cables froze. |
| The coldest temperatures have been recorded in Russia and Kazakhstan. | The coldest temperatures have been recorded in Russia and Kazakhstan. |
| In the Urals and Siberia, the temperature fell to -40C (-40F) while in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, a forecaster told Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency the wind-chill factor meant the real temperature was down to -52C, even though the air temperature was -35C. | In the Urals and Siberia, the temperature fell to -40C (-40F) while in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, a forecaster told Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency the wind-chill factor meant the real temperature was down to -52C, even though the air temperature was -35C. |
| In southern Russia, cars and lorries became stuck in snow drifts between Novorossiisk and Krasnodar. | In southern Russia, cars and lorries became stuck in snow drifts between Novorossiisk and Krasnodar. |
| Heavy snow has also hit Turkey, with 50cm falling in Istanbul on Wednesday. An avalanche in the south-east of the country killed a woman in her home, reports say. | Heavy snow has also hit Turkey, with 50cm falling in Istanbul on Wednesday. An avalanche in the south-east of the country killed a woman in her home, reports say. |
| Another avalanche blocked a main road connecting the provinces of Bitlis and Diyarbakir. | Another avalanche blocked a main road connecting the provinces of Bitlis and Diyarbakir. |
| Rescuers in Germany were unable to save an elderly woman after she had gone swimming in the frozen waters of a gravel pit in Lower Saxony. Reports said she had often swum in the lake. | Rescuers in Germany were unable to save an elderly woman after she had gone swimming in the frozen waters of a gravel pit in Lower Saxony. Reports said she had often swum in the lake. |
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Map Key
FogLight HeavyFrostLight HeavyPressure FrontsCold Warm OccludedRainLight Heavy ExtremeSnowLight Heavy | Map Key
FogLight HeavyFrostLight HeavyPressure FrontsCold Warm OccludedRainLight Heavy ExtremeSnowLight Heavy |
| Temperature tab only | Temperature tab only |
Temperature (°C)More details from BBC Weather | Temperature (°C)More details from BBC Weather |