• Albania, strong earthquake hits Durazzo
  • Albania: new earthquake on the northern coast, about 100 wounded
  • Earthquake Albania, dramatic situation in Thumana

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November 27, 2019

A strong new shock of magnitude 5.6 was recorded this afternoon at around 4 pm and about forty kilometers from the Albanian capital Tirana. The epicenter is in the Adriatic. Following this shock, the Ministry of Defense announced that the rescue operations are temporarily suspended.

28 dead, among them 3 children, over 650 wounded. 46 live extracts
Meanwhile, the number of confirmed deaths in the 6.2 magnitude earthquake of yesterday has risen to 28. Among them three children between 4 and 8 years and nine women. More than 650 are injured, 32 of whom are in serious condition and one in a critical state. So far, 46 people have been extracted from the rubble. Twelve people died in Durres, while another 16 died in the town of Thumana, 40 kilometers to the north. About twenty people are still missing. Italy immediately sent aid and emergency vehicles.

For today, meanwhile, a day of national mourning has been proclaimed in memory of the victims.

The tent camps in the soccer fields
Tents for displaced persons have been set up in the soccer fields in Thumana. Prime Minister Edi Rama has arrived in these disaster areas to bring his support. Switch from tent to tent to talk to the displaced, especially the elderly and children. The same scene is repeated in Durres where basic necessities are distributed to the displaced persons.




Baby drawn alive from the rubble
Meanwhile, rescue operations continue throughout the affected area. A child was extracted alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Durres: rescuers talk of a "miracle".



Dozens of replicas
The Albanian Seismological Institute reports dozens of replicas of magnitudes between 4.2 and 5.4 following the strong earthquake near Durres. Local media say that in several cities the power has gone out and rescuers are working to report collapsed buildings.

Powerful earthquake in 🇦🇱, Ministry of Health says 150 people have been injured. Situation is bad in Thumana. pic.twitter.com/Ki28dG2Pus

- Euronews Albania (@EuronewsAlbania) November 26, 2019
Fear also in Tirana
The quake was felt until the capital Tirana, where people took to the streets in a panic. It has also been clearly felt in Puglia and Basilicata. According to the Albanian Ministry of Defense, this is the strongest earthquake in the last thirty years.

The 20th September episode
On September 20, a magnitude 5.6 shock hit the same area damaging about 500 buildings: it was defined as the strongest earthquake in the last 30 years in Albania. The strongest shock in the night was clearly felt also in Puglia and in Basilicata.


The international community is mobilized, aid from Italy
The international community has mobilized to help Albania deal with the serious consequences of the earthquake last night. According to reports from Tirana's prime minister, Edi Rama, "all friends in Albania are rapidly becoming active". Among the countries that are sending aid and those that have been willing to send them, Rama cites Italy, Greece, France, Turkey, but also the EU and the USA. The first aid started from Italy. Prime Minister Conte has sent airplanes with special units ". Greece has also sent planes, the prime minister added, stressing that French presidents Emmanuel Macron and Turkish Recep Tayip Erdogan have also given their willingness to assist the country. In the meantime, the units of genius have left Kosovo.

Mattarella's condolences for the victims of the earthquake
The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, had a telephone conversation with the President of the Albanian Republic, Ilir Meta. President Mattarella expressed his condolences for the victims of the earthquake and solidarity and closeness to the Albanian people.

Minister Bellanova: support from Italy
"Neighborhood and participation in the Albanian people and support from Italy". This is what Minister Teresa Bellanova wanted to testify in a letter to the Ambassador of Albania in our country Anila Bitri Lani. "I learned with deep sorrow," writes Minister Bellanova, "the news of the devastating earthquake that hit your country so severely, causing numerous deaths, injuries and missing among the defenseless population, as well as enormous damage to public and private infrastructures. We are particularly sensitive to what happened ", continues the minister Bellanova, also for the geographical proximity with my Region and the dense network of ties - often family - that unite our populations. It is necessary not to miss all the possible help to get the search and rescue operations underway in this moment, in the hope of being able to recover his countrymen and his fellow citizens who have been crushed by the rubble ”. And finally: "Please convey my sentiments of solidarity to your people, with the certainty that they will be able to recover from this disaster with their own strength and the support of countries that have always been as close as ours". "In front of the dramatic images that we continue to record", says Minister Teresa Bellanova, "my thoughts naturally also go to the many Italians, often from Salento or other Adriatic territories, who are in Albania for reasons of work, professional or study: there are no news from our countrymen involved but it is clear that what is happening touches all of them dramatically, they and their families in Italy ”.