Russia's Siberia hit by extreme cold
Severe frosts have hit the Russian province of Siberia with temperatures hitting minus 32 degrees Celsius.
The city of Irkutsk on Monday was covered with a cold mist as residents wrapped up and hurried to work on the first day after a long New Year holiday break.
The extreme cold had taken many residents by surprise.
"We of course were not prepared for such frost. It's cold. How else can one feel when it is that cold? Certainly, fresh. But still cold," said one Irkutsk resident.
"You must wear a hat, a scarf and some warm coat like a sheepskin …," said another resident.
Some residents, however, were more tolerant towards the cold claiming it was all good.
"It's Siberia! It's normal. It's not a frost at all. All is good, nothing to be scared about," he said.
Senior citizen Vera Bochkareva stepped out of her apartment for just 20 minutes to look for her dog. She ended up in hospital with severe frostbite on her toes.
"I was dressed very warmly. But I just couldn't feel my feet. First, I felt a bit numb so I thought they might be getting cold. But after that I just couldn't feel my feet at all," said Bochkareva.
The head of the Burns Unit at city hospital No 3, Andrei Shedreyev, said there has been an increase of patients with frost-related trauma since the beginning of the year and called on residents to be vigilant and dress warmly at all times.
"On average, at frosty times we see up to five people with frostbite of different degree. Two to three people would be admitted to hospital. As of today we have 19 people in the ward. Those are all people with severe frostbite. Bearing in mind that it is below 30 outside that tendency will continue," said Dr. Shedreyev.
"On average we perform 100-150 operations. Those are very unpleasant operations as people loose limbs as a result. I call on everyone to be on alert," he added.
The local weather service expects the frosts to subside by Wednesday (January 13) but to return a few days later with full force.
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