TIRANA, Nov 20 /ATA/ – Albania’s Civil Protection chief Haki Çako warned of flood risks as Vjosa River’s water level has reached its peak after heavy rainfall in the last two days.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting conditions near the Mifol bridge in southern Albanian region of Vlora on Thursday, Çako said that authorities had been monitoring the situation for the past 24 hours. The river level had risen to 7.1 metres, which he described as an “alert point that increases the risk”.
“We depend on the inflows coming from the Vjosa in the Tepelena and Permet areas. Monitoring has continued throughout the night,” he said.
According to Çako, rainfall had been intense both in southern Albania and across the border in Greece.
Local authorities have notified residents in areas considered at higher risk.
“Measures have been taken to assist them should evacuation become necessary. The priority is the safety of citizens, followed by property, livestock and everything else related to their normal lives,” Çako added.
He said no homes had been flooded so far, as the Vjosa remained under control in its current course. Three houses located close to the Mifol bridge have been evacuated as a precaution.
“Investments on both sides of the Vjosa have improved our ability to monitor discharges, which is why we have not yet recorded major issues,” he said.
The Defence Ministry said all local and central structures remained deployed at the Mifol bridge and on standby until the alert level drops.
/m.q/u.sh/
