Winter death toll rises to 125 in Poland
Pastor Dale Morgan
Winter death toll rises to 125 in Poland*
January 4, 2010 - 11:54PM
AFP
Fifteen people died of cold in Poland over the New Year long weekend as
temperatures plunged to minus 25 degrees Celsius, taking this winter's
toll to 125, police said.
The majority of the victims were homeless men aged 35 to 50 who died of
hypothermia while drunk, police said.
Police and municipal officials have urged Poles to help the homeless by
pointing them out to authorities, who have laid on special winter
hostels for them.
Since the start of November, 125 people have died from cold in Poland,
not an unusual toll for a country that faces severe winter conditions.
The 2008 to 2009 winter season saw 82 deaths from hypothermia up to
January 8. Poland's highest winter toll in recent years was in 2005 to
2006 when 233 died.