The Fontana di Trevi dawns covered in snow in downtown Rome. EFE

• Most of the deaths have been recorded among the elderly and homeless people

Temperatures remained below average for the season in most of the country, with – 10 degrees registered in the morning in cities like Milan, – 13 in Belluno, – 11 in Verona or – 8 in Venice and Padua

Rome, Italy (06/FEB/2012)-the balance of the wave of bad weather that has semiparalizado to Italy is of at least 19 dead in two days, said local authorities, while the Minister of economic development, Corrado Passera, recognized as a critic in gas supplies.  

The driver of a truck blocked by snow at the gates of the central town of Avezzano was found dead this morning, with what became the tenth ninth victim of the polar cold wave since last Saturday.  

Most of the deaths have been recorded among elderly and homeless people, as in the case of a woman of 78-year-old found dead in the central station of Rome, or a tramp frozen in a park in the nearby town of Ostia.  

However, at least four men were found dead inside their vehicles trapped by snow and the balance sheet could worsen as many localities, especially in the Centre of the country, were isolated.  

The central region of Abruzzo, one of the most affected, said Monday the State of emergency, while Rome continued semiparalizada by snow, with schools, museums and monuments closed and many declared the historic streets impassable.  

The Mayor of the capital city, Gianni Alemanno, criticized for having underestimated the emergency and abandoning citizens to their fate, insisted on blaming the service of Civil protection, which in his opinion gave erroneous forecasts.  

But the Minister of the Interior, Annamaria Cancellieri said that Civil Protection correctly did its job and ultimately, the primary responsibility for dealing with the emergency was mayors.  

For his part, the Minister of economic development, Corrado Passera, acknowledged before the microphones of the radio station Radio24 that the gas supply situation is ‘critical’ because from countries such as Russia and France have been reduced fuel flows. 

“Increased imports of Algeria and from the North of Europe through Switzerland. We will not have problems until next Wednesday “, stated.  

In this regard, the Chairman of the energy group Eni, Paolo Scaroni, said that the emergency could be translated from next Thursday in the paralysis of activities in some companies that would be left without gas supplies.  

“We expect another wave of cold in Russia and not know that behavior to have Gazprom (Russian energy company) on Thursday and Friday. We are preparing for difficult times “, declared Scaroni also Radio24.  

Meanwhile, the temperatures stayed below the average for the season in most of the country, with – 10 degrees registered in the morning in cities like Milan, – 13 in Belluno, – 11 in Verona or – 8 in Venice and Padua.  

In some areas of the northern province of Cuneo the thermometer came to fall at least 23 degrees, while towns like Pesaro, Ancona, Forlì and Cesena (Center) were ask the army to intervene to remove snow that blocked the streets.