A deadly cold claimed the lives of 40 people | Chronic

The polar cold wave continues in the Midwestern United States, where the death toll has been raised to eleven. According to the authorities, low temperatures have also resulted in a large number of hospitalizations due to frost and road accidents.

Some 216 million people, or 75% of the population, were affected by the so-called polar vortex, which caused yesterday a drop in average temperature of -40 ° C and a drop in temperature of -54 ° C. ° C.

The state of Minnesota was hit hardest on Thursday, in the region closest to the Canadian border with thermometers marking this morning at -39º, while in the city of Duluth, the thermal was -49º.

For its part, Chicago has again suffered from temperatures below the South Pole, Siberia or even the planet Mars, which completely paralyzed the city.

The victims

In Iowa, three people died, including an 18-year-old student who was found collapsed outside the campus of the local university. In addition, in a rural area of ​​Indiana, a couple died as a result of a car accident.

Meanwhile, in Illinois, a man was hit by a snow plow, while another victim stumbled and fell outside his home, but died of ice before receiving medical attention.

In turn, two other people lost their lives because of the cold in Michigan, one in Detroit and another in the town of Ecorse. Finally, a man collapsed in front of his garage as he shoveled snow in Milwaukee.

At the same time, after days in these extreme conditions, there should be a slight improvement today, so the minimum would drop to -25º, thanks to the arrival of the snow that was expected for early this year. morning.

Also in Syria

The cold has also claimed the lives of 29 children and newborns in Syria, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The children died of hypothermia while they were fleeing violence towards an IDP camp located in Al Hol in the north of the country. The representative of WHO in this country, Elizabeth HoffHe said that "The situation on the ground at Al Hol is catastrophic, children die of hypothermia while their families seek safety".

Given this situation, Hoff requested that permits be expedited to distribute supplies and provide care to people inside the camp, as well as to people on the roads leading to the site. who are also affected. because of freezing temperatures.

In addition, the WHO reported that the situation had worsened in the Hasaka province camp, which affected some 23,000 people, mainly women and children, within 60 days, fleeing fighting in the nearby area of ​​Deir Ezzor.

Most arrive on the spot after walking for days or after traveling in winter-resistant trucks.