Today, 26 November 2021 marks two years since the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that hit Albania, killing 51, injuring hundreds and leaving thousands homeless.
The quake, that struck Durres and Tirana at 03.56 and lasted for around 50 seconds impacted over 200,000 people and caused over a billion euros of damage. Buildings, homes, and schools collapsed and the emergency services were overwhelmed with calls for assistance. Within hours, resources and aid had started arriving from neighbouring countries.
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Today, two years later, new homes are being rebuilt but some continue to live in tents.
Affected municipalities included Tirana, Durres, Shijak, Kruja, Kamza, Kavaja, Kurbin, Lezhe, Rrogozhine, and Mirdita. The most significant damages were in Thumane where a five-storey building collapsed.
Emergency tents were set up in Durres and Thumane to provide emergency accommodation for around 1000 people.
Prime Minister Edi Rama today commemorated the event through a message on Facebook. He said that tragedies are sent to test us but that Albania has emerged even stronger. Rama added that thousands of families are better off today, than they were before the quake.
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Education Minister Evis Kushi chose to mark the day by talking about “many new schools with European standards” that have been built. “We still have a lot of work to do, so we will not stop, for the good of our children, for the good of Albania,” she added.
