At least 21 people have been killed and hundreds treated in hospital after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Albania on Tuesday, according to the Albanian Ministry of Defence.
The earthquake hit 12 kilometres west southwest of Mamurras, the US Geological Survey said, at a depth of 20 kilometres, shortly before 4am (local time).
Mirënjohje vendeve mike për ndihmën e ofruar: 🇽🇰🇺🇸🇮🇹🇬🇷🇫🇷🇹🇷🇭🇷🇷🇴🇲🇪. Në operacionet e kërkim-shpëtimit po marrin pjesë ekspertët më të mirë të tyre, ndërkohë që FA kanë ngritur çadrat në Durrës e Thumanë. Në Tiranë janë vënë në dispozicion palestrat për familjet në vështirësi. pic.twitter.com/b6pfyw23Rq
— Olta Xhaçka (@xhacka_olta) November 26, 2019
Multiple sources say the earthquake – which was followed by multiple aftershocks – caused significant liquefaction, toppling buildings and leaving people trapped beneath rubble. The earthquake poses a risk of landslide, though little or no population is expected to be exposed, the US Geological Survey said.
Shortly after the first earthquake, a separate one struck the city of Mostar in Bosnia, but no casualties have yet been reported.
Rescue teams continue to work to free people trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Orë të vështira për të gjithë ne. Tërmeti më i fortë i dekadave të fundit ka një bilanc tragjik. 21 jetë të humbura e dhjetëra të plagosur.
Strukturat shtetërore janë në këmbë me FA në krye dhe vijojnë pa pushim operacionet e kërkim-shpëtimit. pic.twitter.com/4CgfVCHgP0— Olta Xhaçka (@xhacka_olta) November 26, 2019
So far, around 42 survivors have been extracted from the ruins, according to officials. While others tragically lost their lives attempting to save others.
Emergency workers reportedly told state media that an elderly woman died after managing to save her “grandson” by cradling him with her body.
The majority of fatalities reportedly occurred in the coastal city of Durres and in the town of Thumane, 40 kilometres to the northwest of Albania’s capital city, Tirana, and close to the epicentre, according to the defence ministry.
In neighbouring Kurbin, a man reportedly died after jumping from his building in panic, while another died in a car accident when the earthquake tore open parts of the road on which he was travelling, BBC News reported.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said emergency services would “continue to search patiently and thoroughly to the end”.
“We have victims. We are working to do everything possible in the affected areas,” he wrote on Twitter.
Albania-based journalist, Antonio Çakshiri, reported on Wednesday that rescue teams had found and saved a woman in the Thumane area, who had been trapped for 15 hours beneath rubble.
More than 600 people have reportedly been treated in hospital, according to BBC News.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told Travel Weekly that it was not aware of any Australians affected by the earthquake.
Featured image: “Armed forces continue rescue efforts after a devastating earthquake in Albania”, posted by Albania Ministry of Defence/Twitter
