MOSCOW, Russia
Up to 300 people have died in the freezing conditions which have gripped Moscow, a health official has said.
The death toll has already far exceeded the figure for the whole of last winter when 205 people died from exposure in the capital by the end of March.
This year's figures have been so high because of a particularly cold snap that has seen temperatures as low as nearly -30C. Thermometers have failed to get above zero throughout December.
Many of the victims are drunks who fail to find proper shelter and doze off in the open.
CNN's Jill Dougherty reports that record cold spells have left homeless people out on the street and literally freezing to death (January 8)
Three people died from exposure on Tuesday, said Igor Elkis, chief doctor for the Moscow ambulance service while another 29 were hospitalised for hypothermia. Other areas of Russia have been severely hit during the past few days, with some areas seeing their worst weather in 50 years.
The eastern province of Primorye saw one-and-a-half times the normal monthly snowfall in just a few hours, the meteorological centre told Reuters.
A cyclone in Russia's Far East has led to snowstorms causing transportation problems and power cuts.
The threat of avalanches across the northern Caucasus mountains has also kept roads closed, the Interfax-Military News Agency reported on Wednesday, citing border guards.
Near-record cold around the southern city of Rostov-on-Don has also frozen the straits in the Sea of Azov, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.
The bear in the Rostov zoo has also gone into hibernation for the first time as temperatures have dipped as low as -25C

en de vragen die erbij horen:

Hoeveel mensen zijn er al doodgegaan aan de kou?
+/- 300

Hoe koud is het?
-30 C

Hoe gaan de meeste mensen dood?
Ze zijn dronken en vergeten onderdak te zoeken en vallen in slaap in de sneeuw,

Waar is dit gebeurd?
Moskow, Rusland

Waar zijn de meeste mensen voor opgenomen?
Onderkoeling

En dit is het ergste weer sinds?
50 jaar

Waarvoor zorgde de cyclone?
Verkeers problemen en stroom storingen.

Waarom waren de wegen bij de Northern Caucasus bergen afgesloten?
Door lawine gevaar.

Waarom waren was de Zee van Azov dichtgevroren?
Door de extreme kou.

De beer in de Rostov dierentuin deed iets door de extreme kou, wat?
Hij ging in winterslaap.