All schools were closed in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, and across the East Kazakhstan region on November 18 due to extreme cold, heavy snowfall, and blizzards.
The temperature fell to minus 40 degrees Celsius in Oskemen, the capital of the East Kazakhstan region.
In the regions of Almaty and Qaraghandy, authorities had to suspend travel on several highways due to low visibility caused by heavy blizzards.
Authorities say more regions are expected to be hit by the unseasonable weather and heavy snowfalls in the coming days.
In the capital of neighboring Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, some 100 trees were felled by a heavy snowfall on November 17, damaging 21 vehicles. One person was injured.
