The body of a 37-year-old mentally-handicapped man who had gone missing on Monday was found frozen to death near his house in Durres, 45 kilometres (27 miles) northwest of the capital Tirana, police said.

In the northern town Shkoder, a 67-year-old died from a heart attack caused by the icy conditions just minutes after he had left his home to go shopping, they added.

And in the capital Tirana, a 68-year-old woman also died of a heart attack caused by the low temperatures.

The number of cardiac patients and children suffering from illnesses related to the cold spell had increased, said hospital officials, adding their work was being hampered by power cuts and a lack of heating.

Numerous schools throughout Albania have remained closed this week due to the weather, while the state-owned electricity supplier announced a new wave of power restrictions caused by increased usage for heating.

In many towns, power cuts last from eight to 10 hours each day, while the shortages are even longer in villages.