The Defence Ministry said on Thursday five firefighting vehicles and 19 firefighters from Puka and Fushë-Arrëz, 10 forestry workers, 40 municipal personnel and 30 volunteers were involved in the operation, supported by 40 Armed Forces personnel, one firefighting vehicle and three military helicopters.

Authorities have prioritised the evacuation of children, elderly people and residents with health problems. Officials said the main threat to the populated area had eased following the intervention of ground and air crews, but efforts were continuing to bring the fire fully under control.

The evacuation and firefighting operation is being coordinated with the National Civil Protection Agency, the Shkodra prefecture, Puka municipality’s emergency services, state police and firefighting units.

The National Civil Protection Agency continues to monitor and coordinate the response with all civil protection structures.

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Located in Qerret municipality, Gomsiqe is surrounded by dense pine forests and forms part of a wider mountainous area known for hiking, skiing, mountaineering and recreational hunting.

Large forested areas and a panoramic road lead to the village, where traditional architecture and local hospitality are promoted as key attractions for visitors seeking outdoor activities, clean air and tranquillity.

Puka, about 145 km  north of Tirana, is also a base for mountaineering in the Munella mountain range, the Terbuni highlands and Mount Krrabi, making it a year-round destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

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Presenting the opposition candidates for May 11 parliamentary elections in the northern Albanian region of Puke on Monday, DP leader claimed that “new dictatorship and drug and crime regime is emerging in Albania.”

“With opposition’s victory in May 11 elections, Albanian citizens will ultimately break up from the great evil that has befallen them in the last 12 years, making Albania the only country in Europe, where new dictatorship is reinstated, this time not based on Marxist-Leninist ideology, but on drug, crime and theft,” Berisha stated.

The opposition leader underlined that Puka is rich in natural resources, water, minerals forests and medicinal plants, but “the region is abandoned, just like it is the case with every corner of Albania over the past 12 years.”

He stated that the May 11 vote is a decisive turning point for every Albanian citizen to build their own dreams in Albania.

“It is a decisive turning point for these young people to build their dreams in Albania, it is an opportunity for  one million of Albanians who left the country in the last 10 years to return back home, build their dreams in the country and set Albania on the course towards its greatness,” he said.

Berisha urged voters to set aside political affiliations and back the opposition in the next month’s parliamentary elections, saying the opposition’s victory would be a victory for all Democrats and Socialists, who believe they can live with dignity in this country.

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