Big freeze death toll rises to 389

Authorities have used everything from ice-breaking explosives to tractors to overcome Europe’s big freeze, as dozens more died of hypothermia and tens of thousands remained cut off by snow.

A total of 389 people are now known to have died from the cold weather in Europe since the cold snap began 12 days ago and forecasters are warning there will be no early let-up to some of the lowest temperatures seen in decades.

While there was some respite for people living in Ukraine — where more than 130 deaths have been recorded — the mercury plunged overnight to -39.4°C in the Kvilda region of the Czech Republic.