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Updated September 22nd, 2019 at 16:44 IST

5.6 magnitude earthquake strikes Albanian capital city, 68 injured

An earthquake having a magnitude of 5.6 with additional aftershocks shook the Albanian port town of Durres on Saturday, 68 people are reportedly injured

Reported by: Sounak Mitra
Albania
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An earthquake having a magnitude of 5.6 with additional aftershocks shook the Albanian port town of Durres on Saturday. It resulted in the collapse of buildings in the capital city of Tirana which forced residents to rush into the streets and parks for safety.
The Ministry of Defence said that it was the most powerful earthquake to hit Albania in the last 30 years. A news source said that the neighbours came out screaming from their homes and thanked God as the earthquake lasted for about 20 seconds and didn't last long. A pensioner, Agim, 67, said that it was a nightmare for him because he doesn't remember any powerful earthquake than this in his lifetime. Ogerta Manastirliu, the Health Minister, said that 68 people had been treated for injuries in Tirana and Durres. Most people were injured while escaping their homes in panic. Health Minister said that many of them have been discharged.

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'No loss of life has been reported'

Manastirliu said that fewer people are coming to the hospitals after the first rush. According to the Defence Minister, Olta Xhacka, 48 houses and three apartment buildings had suffered cracks in the region of Tirana whereas Durres region suffered badly with 42 houses and four apartment buildings were severely damaged. She added that no loss of life has been reported so far.
The Defence Minister also confirmed that no damage has been caused to the oil wells, indicating the oil-producing region of Fier. The US Geological Survey measured the earthquake with an initial magnitude of 5.6 while the Albanian Geosciences Institute reported it as registering 5.8 with an aftershock 11 minutes later measuring 5.3.

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'Aftershocks remained less powerful'

Xhacka said that despite the first most powerful tremor, it is good news that the aftershocks remained less powerful both in magnitude and intensity without affecting much. One apartment building in Durres was heavily damaged. Some footage showed cracks in the houses and customers rushing out of cafes when the tremors were felt. Several cracks appeared on the walls of an old building in Tirana which was evacuated while debris of the roof can be seen scattered across the courtyard at the Geology Faculty of Tirana’s University.

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Published September 22nd, 2019 at 13:04 IST

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