The torrential rains that have hit Albania since the beginning of the week have caused serious flooding in various parts of the country, especially in the city of Durres and surrounding areas. The situation remains dire, with homes, roads and public buildings flooded and residents displaced from their homes.
The first victim and the situation on the ground
Authorities confirmed that a 55-year-old municipal worker was found drowned in a drainage canal in Durres, after being swept away by a current of water due to heavy rainfall.
Heavy rainfall has flooded entire neighborhoods in Durrës, leaving more than 800 homes underwater and around 304 residents evacuated, while the situation remains unstable in suburban areas.
The main Tirana-Durres road and many other segments have become almost impassable for vehicles due to high water levels.
Rainwater has also penetrated institutions, including Durrës prison, where prisoners have been moved to the upper floors for safety.
Hundreds of homes and businesses have been severely hit, suffering significant material damage.
Local authorities have ordered the evacuation of residents in Sukth and Katund i Ri, helping to remove people from the most endangered areas.
Across the country: intense rainfall, evacuations and damaged infrastructure
In addition to Durrës, heavy rainfall has also caused problems in the regions of Lezhë, Shkodër, Fier, Berat and Gjirokastër, where homes, businesses and agricultural land have been flooded. Authorities have continued emergency operations to assist affected residents and remove water from critical areas.
In Vlora, the situation from heavy rainfall and flooding remains critical due to the rising level of the Vjosa River, which has exceeded 9 meters in some segments, flooding agricultural lands and homes in surrounding villages and causing significant damage to infrastructure and residences.
Flooding has affected at least 14 homes in rural areas of Vlora, while water pumping stations have been put under pressure due to water penetrating key supply equipment, raising concerns about the water supply and the overall emergency situation in the region.
Institutional reactions
The Durrës Prosecutor's Office has initiated criminal proceedings regarding the severe floods in the city, which caused one victim and extensive material damage to homes, infrastructure and agricultural land, investigating three criminal offenses: abuse of office, destruction of property by flooding and destruction of property by negligence.
According to the Prosecution, the situation created by the continuous rainfall has paralyzed normal life, seriously endangered the lives of citizens and brought serious public and private consequences, while it is suspected that the death of municipal employee AH, who was swept away by the flow of water while verifying the situation on the ground, may be related to actions or inactions of the persons responsible for the management and maintenance of the infrastructure.
The investigations aim to determine whether the consequences were due solely to natural factors or also to negligence or failure to fulfill duty by the relevant institutions.
Protest and request for declaration of a state of natural disaster
Dozens of Durrës residents have taken to the streets in protest, marching towards the City Hall and the roundabout near the prison, with calls such as "Declare a state of emergency" and accusations that the floods are a result of mismanagement and abuse of funds, not just natural disasters, while the opposition is demanding the declaration of a state of natural disaster for the affected areas.
The government's response
The government and emergency structures have been intensively engaged on the ground to remove water, helping residents and managing the situation, even though the impact of the rainfall has exceeded the capacities of some urban drainage systems.
Prime Minister Rama has acknowledged that the rainfall has been intense and has created an emergency situation, announcing the call of the Intergovernmental Emergency Committee to coordinate intervention measures, clean the canals and deal with the damage, and promising compensation packages for the affected citizens, while at the same time emphasizing that the government is working with all structures to normalize the situation.
There has also been no shortage of comments on the political criticism leveled at him regarding his management of the situation, pointing out that the extraordinary rainfall poses a challenge for all of Europe and not just for our country.
Sources: Euronews Albania, Top Channel, BalkanWeb
