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.
Pakistan is pushing for urgent global action and greater climate funding as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attends COP31 in Türkiye, warning th...
Armenia has lost its voting rights and the ability to nominate officials for certain posts within the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organi...
Four million workers across Spain joined a general strike on Wednesday over the country’s deepening housing crisis, unions said, bringing dis...
Delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for their first formal talks in nine months. They did so with no agreement on what a ceasefire would be tied to or who gets to keep the land currently under Russian control.
At least 17 people have been reported killed in an explosion at a steel plant in western Türkiye, after a crane collapsed during maintenance work. The disaster has prompted a criminal investigation into what went wrong at the industrial facility.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark warning at this year's COP31 summit, saying the climate crisis iss advancing faster than governments' efforts to contain it.
Armenia could lose its voting rights within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on 11 November after failing to pay membership fees for more than two years, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.
U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said Washington believes the Russian President is prepared to reach a peace agreement under the right conditions, as U.S., Russian and Ukrainian delegations began trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday 10 November.
Four million workers across Spain joined a general strike on Wednesday over the country’s deepening housing crisis, unions said, bringing disruption to factories, ports, shops and public transport just weeks before a snap general election.
Two days of U.S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi have ended with an agreement on a major prisoner exchange, but key disputes over security and territory remain unresolved.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark warning at this year's COP31 summit, saying the climate crisis iss advancing faster than governments' efforts to contain it.
Iran has unveiled a new underground missile and drone base, warning that it will respond forcefully to any attack, as tensions persist with the U.S. and oil tankers continue to be struck by naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Hundreds of schools in Italy have been evacuated following emailed bomb threats, as similar messages spread to Scotland and Ireland. Police say the threats are not credible.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment