The death-toll of snowstorms in Serbia has reached 19 human lives, 200 people were evacuated from critical spots, while traffic has slowed down in the entire territory of Serbia due to fresh snow which has been falling since early morning, and only the authorities are performing only the most urgent rescue actions.

According to the data of the Serbian Interior Ministry's Emergency Management Sector, two rescue actions are currently underway, that is, evacuation of a pregnant woman in Priboj, western Serbia, and the rescue of another individual in Bajina Basta, western Serbia.

In keeping with the decision of the Serbian government as regards delivery of food from commodity reserves, 51 ton of food products have been delivered to the population in most endangered municipalities and machines have arrived at the spot, but cannot operate due to snow and strong wind gusts.

As Tanjug learnt from Branko Jovanovic of the Interior Ministry's Emergency Management Sector, around 53.500 people and 20.600 households are currently blocked off by snow, but he also noted that the number of people cut off from communication lines could increase on Saturday.

Head of the Interior Ministry's Emergency Management Sector Predrag Maric told Tanjug early on Saturday that the fresh snow is causing a slowdown in providing assistance, although some positive results were achieved over the past 48 hours. According to Maric, 20.000 people were rescued from the snow over the past 48 hours thanks to additional mechanisation, but 19 people fell victim to the exceptionally low temperatures.

A lifeless body of an elderly woman was found in the snow in the village of Stanca near Kraljevo, central Serbia, early on Saturday. The investigation is still underway and the authorities cannot specify whether the cause of death was cold or another reason.

Airborne traffic on Belgrade's Nikola Tesla airport is going on without any interruptions despite the heavy snowfall and strong gusts of south-eastern wind. However, traffic on Belgrade streets has slowed down and is hindered by weather conditions.