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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