Seismology professors warned Albania's government of earthquakes in 2013

In 2013 four prominent seismologists, Prof. Dr. Edward Sultanova, Prof. Dr. Thank Aliaj, Prof. Dr. Siasi Koci and Prof. Dr. Betim Muco, offered the government a new seismic map that accompanied their joint publication “Sismism, sysmotechtonics and the probability assessment of seismic risk in Albania”. Terms

When they presented this study to the media, they called on the government to update new maps on national standards in the construction sector.

Professor Alija said at the time that the government should make new maps as the normable condition for all construction. According to him, new maps should replace the seismic map of the 1980s that is still in force today, even though the country was hit over the past two months by the two most powerful earthquakes of the past 40 years.

Some designers stated that new maps created by the four respected professors today are used as a guide for many designers and builders, but they are not mandatory because the law does not know them. Small construction firms that accidentally enter the sector by building three four palaces usually require expertise to decrease, engineers claim.

About six years ago, honoured professors called on the government to adopt maps and construction codes because many of the buildings on old legal records were now being built.

Albania is among the countries with the highest seismicities in Europe. In 1995 the government made a decision that all construction on 8 floors must be preceded by seismological studies, not just residential buildings but other ones.

Unfortunately, this decision by the Council of Ministers has not been implemented in all of our construction”, academic Sulstarova said at the time. Through the study conducted, after 30 years academics have developed new seismic distribution maps, which according to Sulstarova must be approved by the Council of Ministers, so that they can be binding on all builders in the country.

We expect and ask the government for these maps to be introduced, as a condition for all antisymic construction in Albania, and to replace the country's seismic map of the years, CHA80, which is still in force today”, Sulstarova said in 2013.

Academyists in their publication have singled out that in Albania's territory, with the probability of 80%, a VII earthquake could occur once every 5 years, an earthquake V III copes every 10 years, while an X earthquake faces every 30 to 40 years and the maximum possible earthquake reaches the Ms=7.5 magnitude.

In the study, authors have identified nine seismic resources zones in our country.

Monography also increases 12 maps of Albania's seismic criminal risk, seismic risk values for 370 municipalities and municipalities, as well as full spectral values for 36 cities.

The monograph concludes that the results of this seismic risk pro-activial assessment should serve as the basis for the country's new anti-Sismic construction code, replacing the map of the Republic of Albania's seismic Region at 1:50, which is still in effect.

9 Seismic resources areas with magnitude

Lezhe-Ulqi zone with Mmax=7.0

Paradriatic Low with Mmax=6.9

Jonian Coast with Mmax=7.0

Corc-Time with Mmax=6.9

Elbasan-Diber-Tedova with Mmax=6.9

Kukes - Bishop with Mmax=6.5

Shkodra-Trope with Mmax=6.5

Pay-Prince with Mmax=6.8

Skopje area with Mmax=6.5 /Monitor/