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In freezing Germany, snow, high winds and icy roads led to over 300 traffic accidents in one state alone and brought transport systems to a halt.

Bad weather also prompted authorities to shut roads in the north, while in some areas railways stopped operating.

In the northwestern state of North Rhine-Wesphalia, one person was killed and more than 40 were injured in more than 300 accidents from Friday night through Saturday, police said.

Slippery roads claimed the lives of two other people involved in separate accidents in the southern state of Bavaria.

Meanwhile, Mecklenburg West Pomerania, a northern state blanketed by heavy snow since mid-December, is believed to be the worst affected by the flurry. Public transit was made impossible in the city of Rostock, hit by 30 centimeters (12 inches) of snow overnight.

Rail company Deutsche Bahn announced it was working with every available snow-clearance team to re-open the main lines.

France, Britain, Belgium and Russia also face snowstorm along with some other European countries.

About 22 people died in Romania, where snow-drifts blocked roads as temperatures plummeted to minus 34 degrees C (93 degrees F).