※  Deadly cold snap grips Europe

Bitterly cold weather swept across Europe in February of 2012, leaving more than 600 people dead, bringing widespread disruption to transportation services and leaving thousands without power.

The cold snap devastated the whole of Europe with its extremely freezing temperatures and record snowfall. Some parts of Europe saw temperatures sink as low as minus 40 degree Celsius (about minus 22 Fahrenheit). Tens of thousands of Europeans were stuck at home due to the heavy snowfall, threatened by food shortages.

Moreover, the snow kept accumulating in some areas, triggering avalanches and general malaise on roads everywhere. 22 countries in Europe declared the state of emergency, including Bosnia, Greece, Ukraine, Poland, France, Britain and Italy.

In pictures:

• Dozens die as cold snap grips Europe
• Europe struggles as under record cold snap