According to Albania’s Institute of Geosciences, the tremor occurred at approximately 00:35 local time and measured 4.4 on the Richter scale.

The earthquake’s epicentre was located about 6 kilometres from Himarë, at a depth of 5 kilometres.

No injuries or material damage have been reported

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The quake was recorded at 15:40 local time, approximately 32 km southeast of Tirana and 6 km southwest of Elbasan.

The epicentre was at a depth of around 15 kilometres.

No immediate reports of damage or injuries were confirmed.

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Addressing the Parliament, Balla highlighted the construction of 44 new schools in Durrës, dismissing opposition complaints as focused on isolated cases rather than the broader success.

He highlighted the Spitalla development as a success story, where 570 families benefited from new housing units.

Highlighting the speed of recovery, the socialist MP noted that over 90% of reconstruction was completed in just seven years, contrasting sharply with L’Aquila, Italy, where only 70% of housing was rebuilt after 17 years.

Balla emphasized energy sector investments—notably new substations in Shëngjin, Shkodra and Fushë-Kruja—designed to modernize the electricity network.

Ultimately, he urged opposition support for the agreement, highlighting its benefits to the public over political disputes. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

Malaj said during an interview for the ‘Vizon Plus’ television that the draft law was prepared in cooperation with the World Bank and based on international best practices.

He added that there has already been held public consultations with interest groups for this legal initiative.

“It is a very good draft law that insures all citizens’ homes against earthquakes. The earthquake insurance fund will be managed by the state. There will be a state company that will manage this fund and will also guarantee the payment of premiums in event of natural disasters,” the minister said.

Asked whether there will be a unified tariff for those who are or are not at risk from earthquakes, the head of Finance indicated that the price has not yet been determined, but it will be easily affordable by Albanian families. /a.g/p.s./

In a statement on social media, the opposition MP said what should have been a joint national recovery effort “became an opportunity for abuse” by the Socialist government.

She said that despite international donors mobilising with grants and soft loans, and despite government pledges for swift reconstruction, the results remain “shocking”: inflated costs above 1.3 billion euros and many families still waiting for permanent housing.

Tabaku accused the government of violating basic public-finance rules by launching tenders without securing budget funds, concealing real costs and allowing them “to rise artificially day after day.”

She cited the example of a school built with EU funds costing about 600,000 euros, compared with 2.2 euros million for a similar school financed from the state budget, according to Tirana’s municipality.

“Years pass, costs rise, and thousands remain without homes, while reconstruction continues to be used as an electoral refrain of failure,” she added.

Tabaku also criticised the government’s preference for expensive eurobonds over more transparent and economical EU funds, which she said limit opportunities for misuse and do not carry long-term interest burdens for taxpayers.

“The 2019 earthquake became an opportunity to enrich a small group in power, while the majority of citizens are left to pay the bill,” she said.

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The earthquake epicenter was recorded in the town of Fushe-Kruje, central Albania. Tremors were felt in the cities around the epicenter, the Geosciences Institute said.

A series of aftershocks followed the initial 4.2 magnitude earthquake that hit the area of Kruja, Nikla and Tirana. The strongest aftershock measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale struck the village of Thumane.

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“Five years ago, Albania was shaken by the earthquake that changed our lives, but united us for a safer future,” Vengu emphasized, adding that “The government launched an ambitious reconstruction process, which today is a model of hope and solidarity.”

He highlighted that, “Thousands of families have moved into new homes and safer and better-equipped schools have opened their doors, but the work goes on.”

The minister cited a World Bank report which read that disasters cause damage of up to 7% of the GDP, while investments in climate adaptation can reduce losses and boost economic development, bringing up to 10 times more benefits.

“We are working with dedication for this,” Vengu said.

The minister stated that this commemorative date also coincides with the establishment, 5 years ago, of the National Civil Protection Agency, which is being strengthened more and more every year.

“In 2025, we will continue with an increased financial commitment to improve national and local capacities in dealing with emergencies and natural disasters, aiming to reduce economic and human damage in all areas at risk”, he underlined. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

The quake-affected families are gradually moving into more spacious, more resilient and more beautiful houses and apartments than the ones they used to live in before the devastating earthquake that was turned into a fresh opportunity for total transformation thanks to a recovery and reconstruction programme launched by the Albanian government in the wake of the disaster.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku -also Minister of Infrastructure and Energy – and Vora Mayor Blerim Shera, inspected the new apartments that will be handed over to the affected families soon.

“A total of 130 apartments have been distributed to date and the rest will be made available to the benefiting families soon. We will gradually arrange distribution process for 404 apartments,” Mayor Shera said.

The new residential buildings also house underground parking lots, offering parking space for over 300 cars.

Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku said that a total of 30 residential buildings with 506 apartments were being constructed for the families that lost their dwellings in the village of Marikaj and Vora municipality.

The government head met with local residents and inspected some of the newly-built apartments, praising high construction quality of the new homes.

“A lot has been said and speculated over these buildings. However, what matters most is the fact that these are your brand new homes and properties that you benefit for free,” PM Rama noted.

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In his remarks at a national conference “Sports, engine of development” held in the village of Thumane, the government head recalled the post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction programme as a turning point for the area, one of the worst-hit by the devastating and deadly quake that jolted Albania on November 26, 2019.

“I don’t think anyone would have ever imagined back then on those terrible days, when Thumana was the earthquake’s epicentre, that a few years later we would come together here in this village along with so many past and current champions and representatives of all sports federations to utilize the infrastructure of one of the best sport facilities in Albania,” PM Rama said.

The Premier said that “from the epicentre of the devastating earthquake, Thumana now is home of one of the best sports infrastructure in the country.”

“Thumana was a challenge on its own, also for the fact that when we arrived here, people were shocked and still terrified because of what they had been through. An improvised camp of makeshift tents had been set up at the football pitch and distrust absolutely prevailed. Local residents didn’t trust anyone even if they were told that everything was to be built back better and stronger,” he said.

“At a meeting with them I pledged that we would also build more sports fields. And a lot of things were done and this happened because we joined forces. I can’t help but mention the Albanians for Albanians Foundation that contributed to the construction of the single family homes,” he added.

The government head said that with the sports infrastructure in place, it is a challenge to turn sports activities into a tradition.

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Sources of the Ministry told ATA that, “This law will create a long-term financial reserve for the community. The application of a compulsory insurance helps the society to have the burden of any possible reconstruction process affordable.

“The protection of buildings against the destructive effects of an earthquake is a necessity, but the repetition of these events would be an unbearable burden for the state budget. The earthquake of 2019 had a budget bill of about 1 billion euros, which affected and is affecting 4-5 consecutive state budgetary years. The application of mandatory insurance will substantially mitigate the catastrophic consequences of any earthquake”, said the Ministry.

Albania ranks among the first countries in the world for the highest level of risk from natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, etc. The World Risk Report 2021, which estimates the Disaster Risk Index for 181 countries, based on coping capacities, ranks our country first in Europe and the 61st in the world. /m.m/p.s./