Cold kills dozens in Latin American countries

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=135624§ionid=3510212


A brutal cold front in Latin and South America has claimed dozens of lives across many countries as the region shivers through its coldest winter in decades.

At least 33 people have died in Argentina over the past several days as polar air sent temperatures down to around minus 14 degrees Celsius. Many of the victims were homeless people who died on the streets of the capital, Buenos Aires.

Even in tropical areas of Bolivia, where temperatures rarely dip below 20 degrees Celsius, a total of 18 people have died as a direct or indirect consequence of low temperatures, the Peruvian state-run Andina news agency reported.

Bolivian officials said temperature in the major city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra is 3 degrees Celsius, the lowest in 29 years.

In Paraguay, the health ministry reported nine people died of hypothermia and another three were killed after inhaling toxic fumes from coal-burning ovens.

In Uruguay, local media reported two weather-related fatalities.

Although there were no reported deaths in Chile, parts of the country reported unusually heavy snowfall, even in generally temperate areas.

Similarly, Peru is experiencing the coldest weather in three years.

The southern cone of South America is now at the peak of its winter season.