Authorities in northern France reported on Thursday that a cold snap has resulted in two fatalities and left 20 individuals injured as snow and ice blanket parts of northern Europe.

According to officials in the Nord region, one individual died after slipping on an icy pavement and suffering a severe head injury. The second deceased person was found in the town of Valenciennes and was noted to be homeless.

The adverse weather conditions began impacting the area on Wednesday, leading to numerous emergencies. Rescue services were mobilized to respond to various incidents, including traffic accidents, individuals falling on slippery surfaces, and instances of flooding.

Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, weather alerts were issued across the country as temperatures were anticipated to drop to an extreme -16 degrees Celsius (3.2 degrees Fahrenheit) in certain areas later on Thursday. In Manchester, the airport had to temporarily shut down its runways due to heavy snowfall but was able to resume operations shortly after.

The Met Office, the UK’s national weather service, warned of continued disruptions affecting road and rail transportation. They also highlighted the risk of accidents arising from icy conditions. Warnings for snow and ice were in effect for northern Scotland and Northern Ireland as well.

The series of snow, sleet, and rain over recent days has caused significant disturbances in travel, resulting in delays and cancellations of flights and train services during this busy holiday season.