Albanian air forces evacuate 15 people blocked by the snow

TIRANA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Albanian Air Forces on Sunday evacuated 15 people by helicopter from snow-blocked villages in the region of Shkoder in northwest Albania.

According to the Albanian Defense Ministry, the 15 people, including eight teachers and two chronically ill, were evacuated to Shkodra city from the villages of Theth and Shale.

The villagers were stranded after the heavy snow cut off the areas from the outside.

Heavy snowfall and low temperatures that hit parts of Albania during the past week have caused disruptions in many of the country's roads, isolated some mountainous areas and also forced the authorities to suspend classes of over 280 schools.