Snow blankets Athens, Greece as a sudden cold spell sweeps the country.

Temperatures in the capital fell to five degrees Celsius and were expected to drop to minus 13 in the northern part of the country.

The cold is threatening Greece's homeless population, which has grown an estimated 25 to 30 percent since the economic crisis began in 2009.

Municipalities have set up projects to help, including implementing emergency cold weather plans.

"Without a doubt the situation is much more severe than before," says the director of Athens homeless projects.

Aid workers are handing out food, clothes and blankets, but say they need all the help they can get encouraging those on the streets to go to temporary shelters.