Cold snap across Europe

LONDON, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- A weeklong severe cold snap has spread across Europe causing 221 deaths and travel chaos, officials say.

Temperatures dropped to -22 F and below across Eastern Europe. Ukraine has suffered the most, as 101 deaths have been reported, mostly among the homeless, The Guardian reports.

The weather has caused power cuts, frozen water pipes and mass closures. At Heathrow Airport, one-third of flights were canceled Sunday.

The snowfall in Rome, which crippled public transport, forced many to trek home from work by foot Friday in subzero temperatures, ANSA reports.

The weather has put a strain on already dwindling gas supplies in Russia, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Italy. The European commission has put the gas-coordination committee on alert but has not declared emergency status yet.