Polish police say 15 people froze to death in the country overnight as temperatures fell as low as minus 20 Celsius in some places.

Police also appealed Sunday to Poles to alert police if they come across homeless or drunk people lying outdoors in an attempt to lower the number of people who die each winter from the bitter cold.

Police say 47 people have already frozen to death countrywide since the beginning of December.

Source: The Associated Press