The convicts, who have also donated their own food rations to the victims of the snow storm, are working around the clock, digging through meters of snow to clear schools, hospitals and homes of elderly people. 　　Local resident: "The snow is over the roof of the house. I can get near the house but the electricity panel is on the wall covered with snow. I'm afraid the snow could fall and smash the wall." 　　In another village, the situation is just as bad, with one resident saying that they feared for their lives.Local resident: "I thought we wouldn't survive this, with all this snow around. Neighbours got us out of the house." 　　The severe winter weather has been blamed for claiming the lives of at least 86 people in Romania, while closing down four national roads and thousands of schools around the region. Many villages are also left without power, making it next to impossible for people to survive the cold snap.