Severe weather that has swept across Europe in the past several days, with temperatures reaching minus 25 degrees Celsius in some places, has claimed up to 79 lives, according to media reports.

Most of those killed due to extreme cold were in Ukraine, where 43 people died and 720 were hospitalized due to hypothermia and frostbite, reported the Kyiv Post. Many of those killed in Europe were homeless and were found dead in the streets.

Areas around the Black Sea near the Romanian coastline froze due to the extreme cold and there was snow recorded on islands in the Adriatic Sea near Greece and Croatia, according to the newspaper.

Schools throughout Ukraine and Greece were closed down because of the cold and snow, reported the BBC. At least 13 people have been killed in the past 24 hours in Ukraine.

A number of people also died in Poland, as well as in Germany, Bosnia, Bulgaria, and several other countries.

Istanbul in Turkey was also not spared the harsh weather. Around 2 feet of snow piled up in the city, causing havoc for commuters and air passengers, reported the Hurriyet Daily News.