Potential hosts, dispatch centres and social workers on the streets are also being prepared for the upcoming alert, Károly Czibere, state secretary for social affairs at the ministry of human resources, said.

He asked the public to keep an eye on the elderly living alone in the next few days and, if necessary, call for help.

Temperatures are expected to fall to as low as -15 C. in some areas during the night, while daytime temperatures are also likely to be in the minus in the next few days.