Cold Snap Claims 181 Lives and Hospitalises 3,000

Ukraine's health ministry yesterday said 181 people had died from the severe cold snap in the past five days that has revived the county's energy dispute with neighbouring Russia.
Ukraine's health ministry yesterday said 181 people had died from the severe cold snap in the past five days that has revived the county's energy dispute with neighbouring Russia.

The ministry said up to 3,000 people had been hospitalised after temperatures plunged to -25 C. Most of the dead were homeless or intoxicated. Ukrainian officials admitted they were taking record amounts of gas from Russian pipelines to Europe.

Yesterday the Russian supplier Gazprom said they had used up their entire January quota and were continuing to affect supplies to western Europe.


© Guardian News & Media 2008
Published: 1/26/2006
 
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