The cold weather spell which hit many parts of Tunisia has killed at least 11 people in the northern town of Ain Draham, near Algeria's border, Radio Mosaique FM reported Saturday.
Snowy weather, which started last week, stroke major roads and isolated hamlets and villages in the town, and even caused destruction of old houses after their roofs fell in due to accumulated snow, the report said.
Water and electricity are no longer available for thousands of stranded villagers in northern Tunisia, the radio said, Xinhua reported.
According to official weather forecast agency, temperatures are expected to drop again in the coming three days. The government has sent in the army to clear off the snow and to channel fresh water and food supplies.
Meanwhile, the dramatic television footage of destitute children shivering from the cold and the snow has also prompted an unprecedented nationwide donation campaign relayed by local media.
Qatar, Libya and the United Arab Emirates have also sent in emergency relief aid in the form of tents, blankets and foodstuff to the areas hit hard by the cold weather.
The last cold weather spell to have hit northern and northwestern Tunisia dated back to the 1960s.
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