The two casualties occurred in the rural Kef region in the northwest of the country on Tuesday, after temperatures suddenly fell to as low as seven degrees Celsius below freezing point (19 degrees Fahrenheit), the daily Quotidien de Tunis said.

Officials said an aid effort was under way to help local communities hit by the exceptionally bad winter weather around the country.

The local weather service said the cold, snowy and windy conditions were likely to continue until Sunday.