Temperatures plummet to record low

C. Budejovice, South Bohemia, Feb 6 (CTK) - Meteorologists this morning measured -39.4 degrees Centigrade, the coldest temperature of this winter, in Kvilda, in the South Bohemian Sumava mountains.

The measurement was taken at the Jezerni slat station at 7:15 a.m.

The -39.4 degrees Centigrade is the coldest temperature of this winter, Gustav Sysel, from the Czech Hydrometeorologal Institute, has told CTK.

However, the historical record of -42.2 degrees Centigrade from 1929 was not overcome.

The frost wave claimed 17 lives in the Czech Republic in the past week.

"In the days to come, too, heavy frosts can be expected and an even lower temperature cannot be ruled out," Sysel said.

As the frost has mostly hit the homeless, some towns have built marquees to shelter them.