Death Toll Climbs up to 164 as Europe Deep in Trouble with Harsh Weather Conditions (Exclusive Pictures)

More than 164 people have died and tens of thousands more get trapped in their homes as cold and icy weather has brought parts of Europe to a standstill.

Death Toll Climbs up to 164 as Europe Deep in Trouble with Harsh Weather Conditions

 Few regions in Europe are suffering from one of the severest winter in decades and entire villages were cut off in parts of Eastern Europe on Thursday, trapping thousands, while road, air and rail links were cut off and gas consumption shot. 

Death toll is increasing sharply despite of efforts from Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations. Sixty three deaths are confirmed in Ukraine while thousands have headed to shelters.

In Poland the death toll reaches to 29 as nine more death confirmed by authorities, while at least 10 people have died in Bulgaria, according to media.

In Latvia, 10 people have fallen prey to deadly cold weather around the capital Riga alone, while there’re no figures available for the rest of the country. In neighboring Lithuania a 55-year-old homeless man became the ninth victim of the deep chill.

The cold has so far killed an infant in Sicily, a 76-year-old in Parma and a homeless man in Milan during what forecasters say is the coldest weather in Italy in 27 years. 

Two people died in Austria, and seven perished in Serbia, where 11,500 others were trapped mostly in remote mountain villages unreachable by road. 

Five have died in the Czech Republic and two each in Slovakia and Greece. 

See the amazing pictures around the Europe:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2095509/Eastern-European-death-toll-hits-122-big-freeze-continues-continent.html

VIDEO: NASA Astronaut Captured Stunning View of Hurricane Irene From International Space Station

Hurricane Irene is currently a Category 2 type storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane strength, with wind speeds of about 100 mph (160 kph); but it is likely to transform a major hurricane today (Aug. 23) or tomorrow.

Hurricane Irene likely to transform into a major hurricane today (Aug. 23) or tomorrow

As Hurricane Irene, the first hurricane to form during the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1, closes the US, an American astronaut has captured a striking view of the powerful storm from space.

Ron Garan, a NASA astronaut based at International Space Station (ISS), snapped the hurricane Monday (Aug. 22) while gawking down on Earth.

watch video below:

Least 22 Dead with Scorching Heat Wave in Southern U.S.; Likely to Persist

Temperature Touching 100 Degrees in southern States of U.S.

A heat dome covering much of the central and southern United States is pushing temperatures into the triple digits and causing heat wave conditions. At least 22 people have reportedly expired from extreme heat. Those most at risk are elderly people and children.

The National Weather Service said, "These triple-digit temperatures are forecast to remain in place across the eastern U.S. through Saturday before cooling off slightly to the mid-90s by Sunday."

More than 141 million people in more than two dozen states were under a heat advisory or warning because of the soaring temperatures, the most recent in a series of heat waves that have scorched the country's midsection off and on since late May, the National Weather Service reported.

In Wichita, the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas, the temperature is expected to touch 100 degrees every day up to next Tuesday. The city has already suffered the soaring heat 100 degrees or more on more than 24 days so far in 2011.