The dead included a three-month old baby, Arafat was quoted as saying by Newsin news agency.

Romania has experienced a major cold snap, with temperatures dropping as low as minus 31 degrees Celsius (minus 23.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in the centre of the country.

Many of those who died were homeless people, as Romania has few shelters, according to media reports.

Dozens of people have also suffered frostbite and have had to be hospitalised, media reports also said.

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