ALGERIA: A cold snap spreading from Europe to north Africa has killed dozens of people in Algeria, where many roads remain blocked amid an unprecedented snowfall

Record ID: 574065

  • Title: ALGERIA: A cold snap spreading from Europe to north Africa has killed dozens of people in Algeria, where many roads remain blocked amid an unprecedented snowfall
  • Date: 16th February 2012
  • Summary: sCHILDREN PLAYING WITH SNOW
  • Embargoed: 2nd March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Algeria
  • Country: Algeria
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Weather
  • Reuters ID: LVARPE2LZ9OET861WWBYOS54R7T
  • Story Text: Dozens of people were reported to have died from a cold wave sweeping Algeria, local media reported on Wednesday (February 14).
    Many died in road accidents as an unprecedented snowfall hit the country.
    Dozens of roads in mountain areas have been blocked, and entire villages isolated.
    Anger among residents ran high as gas and food supplies dwindled.
    "We remained isolated for about 3-4 days. The road is blocked and there is no way to get out. There is no gas, no electricity. Some families here don't even have anything to eat. Now, thank God, everything is all right," said one man, named Rachid, as the situation in his area improved.
    But elsewhere, people watched helplessly.
    "We are really isolated, we haven't received anything. We see on TV, the other towns are fine, and they receive everything -- food, gas but us we didn't get anything and some people are really isolated," said Abdallah.
    "No gas, no semolina, we are dead in here. We are dead, no one cares about us. It seems like we have no officials, no authorities, no municipal, nothing," said another man, Meheni Mohamed.
    Many people were unable to get any supplies for days.
    "They left us to God, they cut off the electricity and the gas. Some people receive all this and others nothing. We have been hungry for a week because of the gas, look at our situation," said Bouchabane Khadija.
    A bitter cold wave in Europe has cost hundreds of lives this month.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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