An onslaught of extreme cold and heavy snow in Europe has claimed more than 260 casualties.

At least 130 people were reported dead and nearly 2,300 frozen in Ukraine as of late Sunday. Temperature plunged below minus 34 degrees Fahrenheit in Central, Western and Northern regions of the country from late January.

The death toll in Poland increased to 45 and in Romania to 28.

Casualties also increased in the Czech Republic, France, Austria, Greece and other countries.

Unprecedented severe cold and heavy snowfalls forced the Serbian government to announce emergency across the country and close schools in most of parts of the country from Monday.

Many parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina are paralyzed by heavy snowfalls, strong wind and biting cold 20 degrees below zero. The international airport in the capital was closed and traffic was put in chaos. Avalanche blocked a tunnel on a highway leading to the capital, leaving vehicles stranded inside it for a long time. Trucks and buses were banned from running across the country.

Heavy snowfalls hit Macedonia Monday, leaving the international airport in the capital closed and railway service and motor transport paralyzed.

Cold snap also hit Italy, leaving 17 people dead. Many places in central Italy remained completely isolated and over 75,000 families were left without electricity. The capital was hit by the heaviest snow in 26 years, banning traffic in some areas.

Heavy snow began falling in Belgium from Feb. 3, putting traffic into chaos. Some roads including a ring road were closed in Brussels. It took two hours more than ever for travelers to go beyond the city. There was a traffic jam in 1,100km-long section of a road in a central region due to heavy snowfalls.

Foreign press reports said that a long spell of biting cold and heavy snowfalls increased the possibility of acute shortage of gas.

Denver, Colorado in the U.S., was slammed with a blast of heavy snowfall that broke an 80-year-old record. More than 600 flights were cancelled at Denver International Airport. Up to 5 feet of snow was reported in some parts of Colorado.

Meanwhile, the heaviest snowfall since February of 2005 hit El Djazair, Algeria on Feb. 3 and 4, putting traffic into chaos and leaving 18 provinces of the country without gas and electricity.