15 Die in Poland Due to Severe Cold Snap

Five people are reported dead in Poland overnight, bringing to 15 the number to have died since temperatures dropped at the weekend.

Several suffered carbon monoxide poisoning from old or faulty heaters, the Interior Affairs Ministry said, but most of the dead were homeless.

[Mariusz Sokolowski, Police Inspector]:             
"During the cold snap over the last four days we unfortunately had 15 deaths."

The temperature in Poland sank to minus 30 degrees centigrade.

[Mariusz Sokolowski, Police Inspector]:        
"These are the people who spent time outside, some of them fell asleep on park benches or at bus stops or maybe tried to find shelter inside a garden or a garbage shed and they hoped they would survive in that place. In most cases the body reaches such a low temperature that it is impossible to recuperate."
                           
In cities across Poland coal burners were set up in the city centre on squares and at the bus stops.             

[Miroslaw Kedzior, Communal Worker, Rzeszow]: 
"This is a great thing, mostly for the homeless, because everybody forgets about them. That's why I think it's a great idea of the city council, the mayor to help those who are most in need."
  
For most Poles, cold winters are normal and they cope well with low temperatures.             

[Tomasz Koluz, Lodz Resident]:
"In general, we had a harsh winter last year. Then we had low temperatures. Two years ago it wasn't that bad."                                

According to the forecasts the cold spell will last until Friday, with heavy snow expected across the region on Wednesday.