February 8th, 2012
12:21 PM ET

Most Ukraine cold deaths alcohol-related, minister says

Alcohol has been involved in most of the deaths blamed on the extreme cold in Ukraine, the country worst affected by the icy temperatures gripping eastern Europe, the country's emergencies minister said Wednesday.

Nine out of 10 of the deaths reported have been alcohol-related, the country's Emergency Situations Minister Viktor Baloga said.

At least 135 deaths have been reported in Ukraine in the past two weeks, but he suggested the actual number that can be blamed on the winter weather is somewhat lower, at 112.

Authorities in Ukraine have set up an emergency hospital to deal with people suffering from cold-related conditions, and distributed 3,000 emergency relief tents across the country, they said. The tents are heated, and people with nowhere else to go can get hot food and drinks.

FULL STORY
Post by: ,
Filed under: Europe • France • Germany • Romania • Russia • Ukraine • United Kingdom • World
soundoff (16 Responses)
  1. bobcat (w/o a hat) ©

    I vill drrrink me Wodka. It will keep me warm.

    February 8, 2012 at 12:29 pm | Report abuse |
    • TORI ©

      @bobcat, LOL,LOL. Now this will be in my head all day. To be on topic, this is tragic that these deaths were mostly alcohol related.

      February 8, 2012 at 4:01 pm | Report abuse |
    • bobcat (in a hat) ©

      @ TORI

      It is a tragic tale, but it is becoming so commonplace troughout the world now.

      February 8, 2012 at 5:19 pm | Report abuse |
  2. SUPERMAN

    Im superman! I will soon destroy extreme chill! These people are freezing their butts off . But where is our snow in southeren california

    February 8, 2012 at 12:43 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Mary

    Thanks, bobcat (w/o a hat) © and SUPERMAN
    I see you guys are leaving it up to me to be the first to say... At least they didn't feel a thing.
    The homeless in Hawaii are fine , even when you say you have no money to spare they're att i tude is "ok" walking off as if they hadn't cared anyhow.

    February 8, 2012 at 12:54 pm | Report abuse |
  4. banasy©

    With alcohol being so prevalent in this part of the world, it isn’t surprising.
    It is, however, sad.

    February 8, 2012 at 1:50 pm | Report abuse |
  5. chrissy

    lmao if i had to live in that country i would be a stone cold alcoholic too!

    February 8, 2012 at 2:05 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Hi, chrissy.
      Everyone knows alcoholism is escapism...and if there was ever a country *I* cared to escape from...

      February 8, 2012 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
  6. BOMBO ©

    Don't these people watch Mythbusters? Drinking to fight cold temperatures might make you feel better, but it lowers your core temperature, making you even more susceptable to hypothermia. Adam and Jaime actually ate wireless electronic thermometers and drank brandy inside a freezer to prove this.

    February 8, 2012 at 2:49 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Uh, given it's the Ukraine, probably not...

      February 8, 2012 at 2:59 pm | Report abuse |
  7. lildeekayjayaye

    They have no home but they do have booze? That is a sad situation.

    February 8, 2012 at 3:52 pm | Report abuse |
  8. bobcat (w/o a hat) ©

    I'll drink to that. Wodka for everyone.

    February 8, 2012 at 5:03 pm | Report abuse |
  9. SUPERMAN

    It is tragic that this has happened to this country. But they are resilient . And i wish i could blow away the cold and make it summer for these poor people. I lived in illinois for two tears and it was colder than you could imagine. But than i moved th N DAKOTA for 2 yrs and worked a turkey farm and it was even colder than anything i imagined: is 60 below cold enough for anybody? That was with wind chill and continuous for days on end!

    February 8, 2012 at 5:04 pm | Report abuse |
  10. leeintulsa

    i think they need to work on their math. 9 out of 10 are alcohol related, so out of 135, only 112 died from the weather.. sounds closer to one out of ten than 9..

    February 8, 2012 at 6:27 pm | Report abuse |
  11. chrissy

    @ superman, yup it is but its perfect ice fishing weather! One thing i miss!

    February 8, 2012 at 6:53 pm | Report abuse |
  12. leeintulsa

    the slasher rides

    February 8, 2012 at 7:55 pm | Report abuse |
« Back to main