Nine dead after avalanche hits Kosovo village In Kosovo, three people died and two children were injured on Thursday when a gas can that a family was using for heating exploded. Kosovo's government ordered schools to remain closed for another week with more snow expected. Police said many inhabited areas were completely cut off. In neighbouring Montenegro the government imposed a state of emergency late on Saturday after snow blocked roads and railways across most of the country. Three people have died so far. More than 50 people have been stranded on a train in Montenegro's north for more than two days as emergency crews struggle to rescue them. In the mountain town of Zabljak in Montenegro's north, snow was 2.3 metres deep, while authorities have banned all private traffic in the capital Podgorica, where snow is almost a metre (three feet) deep and more is forecast on Sunday. In Serbia, which declared a state of emergency last week, 19 people have died in the cold snap so far. Economists said damage from the cold weather may cost the country more than 500 million euros ($660 million). More than 2,000 industrial businesses have been idled to limit the strain on coal-fired power plants and hydropower plants, which were struggling because of the build-up of ice. The government also ordered the closure of all schools and non-essential businesses until Feb. 20. Port authorities for Serbian sections of the Danube, Sava and Tisa rivers halted navigation due to a heavy build-up of ice.