BUDAPEST, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Winter chills have killed more than 40 people since the beginning of this year in Hungary, the Social and Labor Affairs Ministry said Saturday.

    In the capital city of Budapest, two homeless people were found frozen to death on the streets, while in the southern city of Szeged, an old man was found dead in a house without heating, media reported Saturday.

    The worst situation was reported in two states of Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen and Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, where more than 20 have died of coldness this winter.

    The Social and Labor Affairs Ministry has advised the citizens to inform the community staff as soon as possible once they find people, especially the aged, are under the threat of cold weather.

    It also urged medical and welfare experts, community family physicians, postmen and neighbors to collaborate in times of emergencies caused by cold weather.

    Prime Minister Gyurcsamy Ferenc has already requested the Social and Labor Affairs minister and the Transport, Telecom and Energy minister to work out a program by next Wednesday to protect people from suffering similar fatalities.