Cold snap in Eastern Europe kills more than 500

BUCHAREST - The Associated Press

AFP photo

Authorities in Eastern Europe say more than 500 people have died during a record-breaking cold snap that has brought the heaviest snowfalls in recent memory.

Authorities in Russia say 205 people have died in the deep freeze that began in late January, while in Ukraine there have been 112 fatalities, and in Poland 107 people lost their lives due to the frigid weather.

In hard-hit Romania, some 23,000 people remain isolated in 225 communities where more than week of heavy snowfall has blocked roads and wreaked havoc on the rail network.

Nearly 4,000 people cut off for more than a week said Wednesday they were short of food water, and medicine. Authorities said seven people have died in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 86 deaths.