European cold snap kills hundreds

A deadly winter cold snap in Europe has claimed hundreds of lives, with Poland, Russia and Ukraine hit the worst.

In Russia, it has become so cold a circus is resorting to warming its elephants with vodka, rubbing brandy into the chest of a performing lion and spooning wine into monkeys, The Times of London reports.

Icy weather on the continent has disrupted road transport, while natural gas supplies have become a major worry.

The Times of London said as many as 300 may have died so far across Europe as Russia's big freeze spreads west. Poland alone reported 161 deaths as a result of the frigid weather.

A BBC report said in the past week alone, more than 50 people have died in Russia and a similar number in Ukraine.

Temperatures plunged to 22 degrees below zero in the Baltic republics and Czech Republic, while snow spread as far south as Istanbul and Athens, the BBC said.

In Georgia, gas supplies were curtailed after explosions damaged two key pipelines in southern Russia.

The surge in demand has distorted energy supplies in Russia, where consumption has jumped so much to restrict exports.

© Copyright 2006 by United Press International