An unusual blast of cold air from Antarctica has swept across Uruguay, causing the deaths of at least seven homeless people and forcing authorities to declare a state of emergency.
The rare polar front hit the small South American nation on Monday, bringing freezing temperatures as low as -3°C (26°F) and light snow—the first in four years. Wind chills made it feel even colder. The severe cold shocked a country used to mild winters.
Homeless people faced the harshest conditions. Outreach teams worked urgently to persuade rough sleepers to come indoors, while authorities opened 32 new warming centres and converted gyms and police facilities into evacuation shelters, adding around 1,000 emergency beds.
President Yamandú Orsi invoked emergency powers allowing police to forcibly remove homeless individuals from the streets to protect them from frostbite and hypothermia risks.
Seven homeless people died across the country, found in places such as under a bridge, a bus station, and near a river.
At one shelter in Montevideo, people gathered for hot meals and blankets, seeking refuge from the biting wind. Many spoke of fear and exhaustion, some reluctantly taken indoors by police.
Lucas Bilhere, 19 years-old, resting at a gym shelter with his dog Alaska, said the worst time was dusk when the cold set in. Though grateful for shelter, he worried about what would happen once the cold snap ended and the centres closed.
“My dream is to have my own home ... and sleep warm,” he said. “I wish that for everyone.”
Uruguay’s homeless population has risen in recent years, with more than 2,700 people reported without homes in 2024, mostly in the capital. The emergency measures highlight growing concerns over vulnerable communities facing extreme weather.
Temperatures are expected to rise soon, but the recent freeze serves as a harsh reminder of the risks for those living on the streets.
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An unusual blast of cold air from Antarctica has swept across Uruguay, causing the deaths of at least seven homeless people and forcing authorities to declare a state of emergency.
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The man behind one of Japan’s most disturbing serial murder cases—dubbed the ‘Twitter killer’—has been executed, breaking a nearly three-year pause in the country’s use of capital punishment.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Tehran has not made any decision to begin new nuclear talks with the United States, dismissing recent claims by President Donald Trump about a planned meeting.
Türkiye has thrown its full support behind NATO’s new pledge to raise collective defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with Ankara confirming it is already surpassing the previous 2% benchmark and accelerating efforts to bolster national and regional security.
The man behind one of Japan’s most disturbing serial murder cases—dubbed the ‘Twitter killer’—has been executed, breaking a nearly three-year pause in the country’s use of capital punishment.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Tehran has not made any decision to begin new nuclear talks with the United States, dismissing recent claims by President Donald Trump about a planned meeting.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said on Friday the group aims to become the world’s top platform provider for artificial super intelligence within the next decade, signaling a bold new direction for the Japanese tech giant.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
An unusual blast of cold air from Antarctica has swept across Uruguay, causing the deaths of at least seven homeless people and forcing authorities to declare a state of emergency.
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