Winter storms kills 32

A severe winter storm sweeping through the southern Balkans that has so far claimed 32 lives today left thousands of villages isolated and knocked out electricity to many parts of the region.

Heavy snow and rain has affected countries from Albania to Turkey since Sunday, closing airports, roads and rail lines.

The storm stranded thousands of holiday travellers seeking to celebrate either Christmas or Eid Al-Fitr - the three day holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

‘‘We’re experiencing the most severe winter conditions in many years,’’ said Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz. ‘‘I hope we will overcome this chaos in a few days.’’

Albania’s electricity grid, already facing problems because of an energy crisis, was unable to supply power to thousands of people in remote villages.

Several countries marked record low temperatures, with several Transylvanian towns in Romania dropping to minus 31 C (minus 23.8 F).