LIMA, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Peru's Health Minister Carlos Vallejos said on Friday that a wave of cold snaps has hit most parts of the country and killed 55 children under the age of five.

    Plateau regions across the provinces of Puno, Apurimac, Ancash, Cajamarca, and Cusco are among the worst-hit in the country, which have seen extreme cold weather of -20 degrees Celsius, the minister said.

    About 6300 people have also caught pneumonia as a result of the cold weather, the minister said.

    The Peruvian government has announced a state of emergency in 13 provinces and transported large quantities of clothing, food and medicine to the afflicted regions.