2 Feb 2012

Cold fatalities rise in eastern Europe

5:44 am on 2 February 2012

More than 60 people have now died in a cold snap in eastern Europe.

Temperatures are below -30 degrees from the Ukraine to Turkey.

At least 30 people have died in Ukraine. Deaths have also been reported in Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.

Health officials in Ukraine say nearly 24,000 people have sought refuge in shelters over the past three days.

More than 600 people have sought treatment for frostbite and hypothermia during this time.

The Danube River has started to freeze.