Cold and blizzards have swept the southeast Albania making driving treacherous on certain road segments. According to official sources from Korça police, all road axes are passable by snow chains, except for the axis Ersekë – Leskovik, which has been blocked by deep snow.

Axes: Korçë -Voskopojë – Dardhë; Korçë – Qafa e Qarrit , Korçë- Goricë; Pogradec – Qafë Plloçë, Pogradec- Qafë Thanë; Korçë-Devoll-Kapshticë; Ersekë-Qafë Qarri; are passable by chain.

Meanwhile the snow clearing vehicles are throwing grit and cleaning the roads. Road police are keeping a close watch on the traffic instructing the drivers how to avoid potential dangers on the slippery segments.

Meantime, a 12-year- old boy has died at Kashari Lake in Tirana. The lake, where the boy and his friends were playing, was frozen due to the cold weather, but the ice on the surface was broken and the boy fell inside, where he drowned. The boy’s 15- year- old sister, who was playing with her brother, risked her life as well but she was saved.

The diving team went to the lake to search for the 12- year- old boy’s body, which has now been recovered.

In Fier, a 40- year- old man died at the water reservoir which is frozen. As he tried to walk on the frozen reservoir, the ice broke apart, resulting in his death.

Meanwhile, a man from Pogradec has died from the cold. Sources from Pogradec police say that the man is believed to have died from hypothermia due to the low weather temperatures. Another victim was registered in Durres, where a woman was found dead in her apartment. She has been identified as Shpresa Muca, 68 years old, while neighbors say she lived alone and suffered from a chronic disease.