Three people have died in western Serbia due to unusually cold weather, local media have reported. All three were found in snow, having gone out alone during the blizzard. Two more remain missing, as the authorities continue search and rescue operations, trying to reach those in danger. Officials have urged the elderly living in the areas affected by blizzards and low temperatures not to leave their homes and instead contact local authorities should they need any assistance.

Unusually large amounts of snow have caused electricity supply disruptions, school closures and traffic collapses throughout the country. Hundreds of kilometers of roads are still impassable, making many villages unreachable, while the temperatures have dropped to -20° C (-4 °F).  Fourteen municipalities have introduced emergency measures in an attempt to cope better with the situation. Other parts of Balkans, as well as Europe, have also had problems because of the bad weather.

Serbian Hydrometeorological Office has forecast the weather to remain almost the same, with freezing temperatures lingering throughout next week. That information has shattered the hopes of the people living in the affected areas, as they will have to wait even more to be able to go about their everyday activities as they usually would.

Photo: TANJUG