KIEV, Jan. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Fifty-three people in UKraine have died from the extreme cold during the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 130 since temperatures plummeted last week, the Ukrainian Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

    At least 538 people have been hospitalized, most of them suffering from frostbite and various stages of hypothermia, the ministry said in a statement.

    The record cold wave, which began last week, has seen temperatures plunge to minus 30 degrees Celsius in Ukraine and neighbouring Russia. More than 120 people have died of exposure in Moscow since October, Interfax reported. Enditem