Belgrade - Tens of thousands of people in dozens of villages were isolated from outside world Thursday in the Balkans after heavy snowfall, local reports said.

At least five municipalities, with some 10,000 people were cut off in northern Albania, as layers of fresh snow exceeded three metres in some places.

The highway Morina-Kukes-Qafa Shllak has been closed and it is believed that people may be trapped in cars stuck in snow. At least one family was rescued by police arriving after a several-hour trek.

In Serbia, more than 30 villages were isolated under snow and traffic accidents multiplied at an alarming rate amid visibility- reducing flurries and slippery roads, with the elevated central- western and southern part of the country hit particularly hard.

Around of the snowed-in villages had no power or were hit by blackouts since Wednesday night, reports said.

An unusual snowstorm has hit Dubrovnik, an old fortress-resort and port in the south of Croatia's Adriatic coast, forcing the closure of the local airport.

Ice and slush covered the slippery polished-stone streets in the old town, the power supply was unstable and children were released from school, Croatian television said. (dpa)