BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Heavy snow has blanketed Romania and Moldova, isolating hundreds of communities, closing border crossings and schools and throwing the transportation network into chaos.

With roads made impassable by snow, authorities sent helicopters on Tuesday to transport the sick to hospitals in eastern Romania where 150 communities remain cut off by heavy snow. Authorities said five people have died in 24 hours due to the frigid temperatures.

Two border crossings between Romania and Moldova were temporarily closed, and there were long delays on the rail network. Hundreds of schools were closed in both countries.

Since the end of January, Eastern Europe has been pummeled by a record-breaking cold snap and the heaviest snowfall in recent memory. Hundreds of people, many of them homeless, have died and tens of thousands have been snowed in.