Life

A blast of cold weather sweeping across Europe will keep its icy grip on the Basque lands on Tuesday and Wednesday as the Basque Government's Interior Department maintains its yellow alert warning because of freezing temperatures and risk of freezing.

According to provisions given by Euskalmet, Monday will continue to be cold though somewhat less damp. Very light snowfall is expected during the day but there is a greater risk of snowfalls at night over 600 metres.

On Tuesday, there is greater risk of freezing and heavy snowfalls are expected, mainly at night.

Wednesday is expected to be the coldest day in the week with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls.

Europe

Hundreds have lost their lives in eastern Europe as freezing weather sweeps across the continent westwards, while major airports warned that services would be delayed or cancelled.

A state of emergency was declared in Bosnia after the cold snap claimed its seventh victim, and avalanches and strong winds cut off hundreds of villages in eastern parts. Helicopters were needed to deliver aid packages to mountainous areas and take the sick to hospital.

Greece also declared an emergency situation in the western Peloponnese peninsula after heavy rain caused flooding and an 82-year old woman drowned while trying to escape her house.

Nine more deaths from freezing temperatures were registered in Ukraine overnight, emergency services said, taking the death toll to 131 from a nine-day cold spell, the most severe in the country for six years with night temperatures down as low as
minus 33 Celsius (minus 27 Fahrenheit) in parts.