21/07/2010 13:19
Cold spell kills at least 175 people in South America
At least 175 people have died in the coldest winter in South America in recent years, The Hindu agency reported citing DPA.
The cold was worst in southern Peru, where temperatures in higher altitudes of the Andes dropped to minus 23 degrees Celsius.
In Argentina, 16 people froze to death and 11 died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to faulty heaters. It measured the coldest temperatures in 10 years In Bolivia, 18 people died, in Paraguay five and two each in Chile and Uruguay. Nine people died in southern Brazil.
Officials said Monday that since the beginning of last week 112 people died of hypothermia and flu.
The poorest population groups are worst affected by the cold spell with their homes poorly equipped to deal with the cold and lack of access to health care.