A cold snap has hit Taiwan, causing 103 deaths over the past three days, local media reported. The majority of the victims were elderly people from northern Taiwan.

According to the local weather bureau, temperatures on Thursday dropped to an average of 8-9 degrees Celsius on northern parts of the island. Weather warnings were issued for 16 cities and counties on Sunday, including Taipei, Keelung and Taoyuan.

As temperatures fell below 10 degrees Celsius in some regions, elderly people were at a greater risk of serious medical conditions, with an increase in the number of strokes, heart failure and heart attacks reported.

The cold weather is expected to continue until next Tuesday, when temperatures across Taiwan are expected to rebound thanks to a changing weather front.