Cold weather kills 15 in Kyrgyz capital in January

BISHKEK, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The cold winter weather has caused the deaths of 15 homeless people in the Kyrgyz capital this month, local authorities reported Friday.

They were found to have died of hypothermia. There are currently four shelters accommodating the homeless operating in Bishkek, offering one hot meal per day and doctors' visits. The police have identified 239 homeless people in the capital city, according to the Central Internal Affairs Directorate of Bishkek.

Kyrgyzstan is expected to suffer an extreme cold spell on Jan. 26-29 and a storm alert has been issued. Air temperatures are predicted to drop to as low as 25 degrees Celsius below zero at night and 15 degrees Celsius below zero in the day in the north of the land-locked central Asian country. In the mountainous areas, the night temperature can be 40 degrees Celsius below zero.

All schools in Kyrgyzstan will be closed through Jan. 30 due to the cold weather, according to the ministry of education. Enditem