Strong quake hits Albania; at least 4 dead, 150 injured

FAN Editor

A strong earthquake has shaken Albania, killing at least 6 people, injuring 300 and collapsing buildings

A strong earthquake shook Albania early Tuesday, killing at least six people, injuring 300 and collapsing buildings.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude-6.4 quake, which struck just before 4 a.m. local time, had an epicenter 30 kilometers (19 miles) northwest of the capital, Tirana, at a depth of 20 kilometers (12 miles).

Albanian President Ilir Meta said the situation in the town of Thumane, closest to the epicenter, was “very dramatic.”

“All efforts are being done to take the people out of the ruins,” he said.

Defense Ministry spokeswoman Albana Qehajaj said the bodies of two people were taken out of a collapsed building in the coastal city of Durres, 33 kilometers (20 miles) west of the capital Tirana. One more person had been found dead in the same building earlier in the morning, while two bodies were removed from the rubble of a collapsed building in Thumane.

Another person died after jumping from his home to escape shaking from the quake in Kurbin, 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of the capital, the Defense Ministry said.

Health Minister Ogerta Manastirliu said some 300 injured people were treated in Durres, Tirana and Thumane.

The quake was felt along the Albanian coast.

Authorities reported scores of aftershocks and called on people in the most affected areas to stay out of their homes. Many reported seeing cracks in their apartment walls.

At least three apartment buildings and the power distribution station were damaged in Thumane.

An earthquake in September in roughly the same area damaged hundreds of homes.

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Rescue drama after powerful quake hits Albania, killing several

Tirana, Albania — A strong earthquake shook Albania early Tuesday, killing at least six people, injuring 150 and collapsing buildings. The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.4 quake was centered 19 miles northwest of the capital, Tirana and has a depth of 12 miles. It was the strongest quake […]