TIRANA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Albania has been gripped by freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls in the last two days, with many villages and roads being blocked, Albania's Civil Emergency Department said Monday.

Temperatures in the north of Albania fell down to minus 8 degree Celsius on Monday, while temperatures are expected to reach minus 12 degrees in the coming days, according to meteorologists.

The roads in the southeastern Albania were covered by ice, creating difficulties to traffic circulation.

The border-crossing point between Albania and Macedonia in Qafe Thana, southeast Albania, had been blocked for a few hours until the situation was normalized.

Civil Emergency Department called on drivers and citizens to be cautious on national roads due to the icing conditions.