20 kids die in Peru's freeze
2003-07-14 07:47
Lima - At least 20 children have died in a winter cold spell that has hit Peru's southeastern Carabaya province, a local official said on Sunday.
Entire families have been affected by the freezing conditions that have seen thermometers drop to -23°C, said city official Alberto Quinonez.
He called on the central government to send medicine, food, shelters, fuel and, with lakes frozen over, water as well, and fodder for livestock.
People living at between 4 600m and 5 000m are among the worst-affected, he said. The weather is among the coldest seen in the Puno region since the 1962 levels of -30°C.
- AFX