Five years since the powerful earthquake that hit Albania
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Five years since the powerful earthquake that hit Albania
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Northwest Albania was hit by a powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake, with an epicenter 16 kilometers west-southwest of Mamurras, at 03:54 CET (UTC +1) on 26 November 2019.

Eleven municipalities were affected, including two of the largest and most populous, such as Tirana and Durrës. The consequences were also felt in the municipalities of Shijak, Kruja, Kamza, Kavaja, Kurbin, Lezha, Rrogozhina and Mirdita.

In total, 51 people were killed by the earthquake and over 3.000 others were injured. Among the victims were two brothers from Livoçi i Eperm i Gjilan, Shemsedin and Isa Abazi who tragically lost their lives under the ruins of one of the hotels that collapsed in the early hours of November 26. It is reported that the earthquake directly and indirectly affected 202 thousand people.

In terms of magnitude, this was the largest earthquake that has hit Albania in more than forty years.

Damage was recorded mainly in the city of Durrës and the village of Kodër-Thumana, which are located near the epicenter of the earthquake. Two hotels and two palaces collapsed in Durrës. Four buildings, including a 5-storey building, collapsed in Koder-Thumanë which was hit hardest by the earthquake.

The town of Laç was extensively damaged. The 30-day state of emergency was declared by the Albanian government for Durrës, Thumana and Tirana and later extended to Laç and Lezha.

The quake was followed by aftershocks that shook structures damaged during the quake and caused fear among citizens.

Consequently a number of houses were no longer habitable. Hundreds of Albanian soldiers and about 2.000 police officers were sent to the quake-hit areas. They were tasked with assisting in search-and-rescue operations, as well as setting up tents and shelter camps for homeless people. 300 emergency tents were set up near the stadium in Durrës and Thumanë to house about 1.000 people.

Kosovo did its job by coming to the aid of Albania. Aid was collected individually while it was institutionally offered to house families. The KSF search and rescue unit, and that of K9, the unit that operates with dogs, would come to the aid of the residents of Durrës and Thumana, places where the earthquake had hit hardest.

Many homeless people in Koder-Thumanë spent two nights in tents refusing to stay in hotels on the Adriatic Sea. RENEA Special Forces continued to search for several people who were reported missing and at least 45 people were pulled alive from the rubble.

According to official information, 51 people lost their lives - 25 in Durrës, 25 in Thumana and 1 in Lezhë. Among the victims were 10 children aged 2-10 years. After the earthquake, 2 people from Kurbin lost their lives, one from injuries and the other ended his life due to post-traumatic stress.

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