Freezing weather in Poland pushed the country's winter death toll up to 200 as of Wednesday, national police headquarters confirmed.
In the coming days, temperatures were forecast to plunge to minus 20 degrees Celsius (32 Fahrenheit) in some areas of the country, risking a further spike in cold weather casualties.
December saw the most deaths due to exposure with police recording 134 victims.
The majority have been homeless men aged between 35 and 60 who abuse alcohol. Police have urged the public to react if they see individuals lying on benches or wandering along roads at night.
A total 289 people perished in Poland due to the cold last winter, 119 of them in January 2010 alone, police said.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
