In Europe, heavy snowfalls brought chaos to parts of Germany and Sweden today, leaving roads blocked, trains halted and schools shut. In Bulgaria, authorities said two snowboarders died in an avalanche today.In German, a nine-year-old boy was killed by a falling tree and the driver of a snow plow died today after his vehicle toppled into an icy river.

The front of a Swiss hotel was hit by an avalanche and a winter storm made roads impassable in Sweden and Norway. Austrian rescuers had to battle through chest-deep snow to reach a snowboarder. The 41-year-old Pole had lost his way after going off piste at the resort of Schlossalmbahn.

At least 20 weather-related deaths have been reported in Europe in the past week. About 2,000 soldiers and other emergency workers in Albania were assigned to help people trapped by snow and to clear roads to restore access to rural areas.