Three Dead and Hundreds Evacuated from Severe Flooding Across Albania

Tirana, Nov 8 (Tirana Echo) – Heavy rain has caused severe flooding in several cities across Albania with at least three dead and several major roads blocked or damaged by landslides.

Heavy rain which is expected to continue into Wednesday has caused severe flooding in the cities of Lezhe, Durres, Fier and Dibra where several families have been evacuated and hundreds of houses and land covered in water.

It is being reported that the highway connecting the port city of Durres and capital Tirana has been blocked while the army and emergency services have been mobilized to relieve the situation across the country where landslides have been reported.

authorities are currently demolishing part of the Tirana-Durres highway in order to open evacuation routes for the water blocking traffic in this major artery of transport also crucial for reaching the Internation Airport of Tirana.

Prime Minister Edi Rama chaired a meeting of national council of emergencies today with representatives from ministries of interior, defense, agriculture, energy and health and said that the country should brace itself for yet another day of heavy rains while authorities stand ready to assist people in danger.

Police are reporting at least three dead while the Interior Ministry has called on schools to close and send kids home. Meanwhile the Ministry of Agriculture says that several thousand hectares of land have been covered by overloaded rivers.