Authorities in northern France say two people have been killed and 20 others injured as a result of a sharp cold snap, snowfall, and icy conditions, the Associated Press reported.

One of the dead slipped on a sidewalk and hit his head hard, authorities in the Nord region said in a statement. The other victim had no fixed address and was found dead in the town of Valenciennes, the statement said.

The cold weather first set in on Wednesday. Rescue services were called to deal with traffic accidents, people falling into snow and ice, floods, and other emergencies, the statement said.