As the hours go by, the catastrophic dimensions of the earthquake that hit Albania shortly before 4 am today [local time 05:00 Cyprus time] are becoming apparent, with a focus on the area between Tirana and the coastal city of Durres.
Information now speaks of five dead, while the number of injured who are being treated in hospitals is increasing. The information also speaks of people trapped in the ruins of the destroyed buildings.
Most of the collapsed buildings are located in Durres and Tirana. There are, however, damaged buildings within a radius of about 150 kilometers: from Lezia in the north to Fieri in the south. It has now been reported that eight apartment buildings in Durres and the suburbs of Tirana have collapsed. These are buildings that were erected before 1990, but also newer.
On the other hand, panic proved to be the worst advisor for the residents of the earthquake-stricken areas, while the lack of state infrastructure aggravated the situation. In several areas affected by the earthquake there are serious problems in electricity and telecommunications. Confucius is rampant in the streets, with citizens taking to the streets, while the government is appealing for the roads to remain open. The country's Prime Minister Adi Rama went to Durres, which was hit hardest. An earthquake measuring 07.03 on the Richter scale was recorded on 5,4.