Extreme weather in various countries in the northern hemisphere

Authorities in countries across Europe are trying to cope with an unusually long period of severe cold.

In Lisbon, city officials have set up special centers where homeless people can stay warm. However, NGOs say it is sometimes a challenge to persuade them to go there.

“This is the coldest place, it is very cold and drafty and yet they stay here. Even if there are cold nights, this is usually one of the few places where they stay,” says Natalia Amador, a volunteer at CASA, an organization who works with the homeless.

In Greece, another type of extreme weather is causing problems.

Torrential rain has battered Athens and other parts of the country, causing flash floods. The police are calling on people not to travel if possible.

Countries in Asia are facing even tougher conditions.

In Japan, heavy snow has hit northern and eastern coastal areas. While this is a nightmare for those who need to travel, it was a visual delight for visitors to frost-shrouded Mount Fuji.

Blizzard conditions have also brought hardship to South Korea. Up to 70 cm of snow fell in some places.

And the winter storm has even reached the Arabian Peninsula, with rare snowfalls in the highlands of Oman.