Poland is struggling with severe cold and a gas shortfall

At least 50 have died in neighbouring Ukraine - 30 within just 24 hours, the health ministry said on Monday.

Temperatures have also plunged to minus 30C in the Baltic republics and Czech Republic. Snow has spread as far south as Istanbul and Athens.

In other developments:

• Frozen Georgia is still struggling with inadequate gas supplies after explosions damaged two key pipelines in southern Russia. Georgian TV said there were problems getting replacement gas from Azerbaijan and Russia had suspended repairs on the damaged pipelines.

• Poland has seen at least 27 deaths from cold since last Friday and more than 1,000 schools have been shut.

• Bad weather led to a spate of road accidents in Turkey which claimed at least six lives, while flights and ferry services were disrupted.

• Snow fell on the ancient acropolis in Athens, schools were closed in the city and ferry services cancelled.

• Many residents of the Romanian capital Bucharest were left without heating because of low gas pressure. The Romanian death toll from the cold snap has reached 16.