Over 170 die across freezing Europe; in Japan death toll hits 50

European Emergency Ministry officials said 43 people had died in Ukraine and another 720 were being treated for hypothermia or frostbite as the death toll hits 177 in Europe winter’s frigid grip.

Meanwhile, the Polish Interior Ministry said 29 people had died and officials in Prague said at least 10 people had died in the Czech Republic capital, and deaths also were reported elsewhere in the country but no numbers were provided.

In Ukraine, temperatures reached to minus 30 degrees and 63 deaths were reported so far.    

Likewise, 22 people were reported dead in Romania, 10 in Bulgaria, and the weather was blamed for two deaths in Germany.

According to sources, most of the victims were homeless people.

In Japan, authorities reported that at least 50 people died due to the snow storms striking down the Asian island.