photo - PAP/Leszek Szymański

Extreme weather with thermometers plunging to under minus 20 degrees this week have resulted in 38 people dying from hypothermia in Poland.  

The alarming statistics show that in the first three days of December an average of ten people died of the cold daily in Poland, where the northeastern town of Bialystok recorded a record minus 33 degrees below zero Tuesday night, Wednesday morning.

The most at risk are homeless and drunk people, say police. Special patrol units have been set up , searching parks, railway stations and abandoned houses on the look out for the destitute.

The elderly, the frail or disabled are also at risk when venturing out to buy food or medicine.

Poland can not expect the situation to improve in the coming days warn meteorologists. Next week is to see many sunny but chilly  days, while temperatures may drop to minus 18 during the night. (ab/pg)

source: IAR