Residents affected by floods in Vlora seek support

In the town of Vlora, which was flooded massively two days ago, water withdrew from many of the neighbourhoods on Sunday due to good weather, while residents and emergency workers are working to normalise the situation. Many residents are seeking support for the damage they have suffered, while the most difficult are the poor families whose homes have been flooded. Meanwhile, local authorities say they are reviewing problems in the city that brought floods, in addition to the difficult weather situation.

The water was withdrawn Sunday from several flooded neighborhoods Friday afternoon in the city of Vlora, while dozens of residents and emergency workers are working to normalise the situation in the city.

Now all the river-locked roads in the city are dead-end”, says the Voice of America civil emergency supervisor at Vlora Prefecture Robert Sqadh.

All roadblocks within the city that were blocked, mainly intersections, have become obsolete. Four intersections, the one at the University, at the “Albano Street and Romina”, the New Dyqanas and the Catholic Church. From this moment on, water blocks have been released. Operational forces are on the ground to normalise the situation, mainly all operational forces in Vlora, supported and by the Armed Forces and the aid coming from the National Water and Contamination Agency and the Canal Waters that have brought support forces and means in support of Vlora”, he relates.

Mr. Skender says that it is now working to draw water in many areas and especially from garages where dozens of cars are blocked by water.

“Supporting the armed forces is becoming the removal of water from the buildings that are filled with water and within them there are parked vehicles. There's about 50 parking lots that's getting involved, says Mr. Skender.

On the side of the trans-Balkan road, many families have been flooded and work to remove the mud that floods have left behind.

Family Cobo has lived in this area for 25 years. We've never encountered this situation before, says Flamur Cobo.

It never happened to us this time. In advance, the channels were functional, and now they are untapped. All electrical appliances are damaged”, he relates.

While Valbona Cobo says the situation was very dangerous for all families in the area.

The family with five members lives on only one salary and so far says it has found no support from the municipality, while spending the night in the car.

Neighborhood residents hold local authorities accountable, as the channel that should attract the waters is unassumed and blocked.

Local authorities in Vlora have estimated that heavy rainfall in a short time brought floods, while other factors like the city's high water channel and informal construction appear to have exacerbated the situation.

Emergency responsibility Robert Skender says the flood situation came as a result of the unprecedented heavy rainfall for Vlora in a very short time and the release of the city's high water channel.

The “Masat from the municipality and the Civil Protection Commission in the district were taken to cope with an emergency autumn-day situation. But starting with a very high rainfall intensification that fell Friday, between 14.20 and 16.45 have dropped 180mm of rain for an interval of nearly two hours. Based on the statistics we have this is the amount of rainfall that falls over a month during the winter period in Vlora. The high intensity of rainfall, major flows, exits, and the high-water channel level made an unaffordable situation”.

While Vlora mayors have stated that the channel for drawing water has been carrying problems over the years, even because of the misinvestment that is made by individuals, but the responsibility of institutions for allowed construction.

Vloras, like many cities in Albania, suffer major construction informality problems that in many cases have blocked water withdrawal networks.

Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party in Vlora has led strong criticism of the local and central government.

In a statement to the media, the president of the local branch of Democrats, Attard Hoxha, demanded that the prosecution investigate the factors that brought flooding and damage to home and businesses.

“under these conditions the Democratic Party, the Vlora branch makes the prosecution prompt investigation into the situation created in the city immediately, since it is clear that the need for precautionary measures and efficies has not been met by leaving the city vulnerable and to the mercy of fate”, he dekalified.

At the heart of the city near the Flag Square, the water supply workers are drawing water from the historic mosque, which was flooded while the vehicles have been approached by Durres as solidification with this difficult situation.

The injured residents in Vlora say they expect support from the municipality, while authorities have declared that once the emergency situation passes, they will be on the ground to meet with families and businesses that have been affected by the flooding.

The Vlora municipality says it has started distributing 300 meals to families affected by floods, but many poor families claim they have received no emergency aid.

Friday afternoon floods in Vlora damaged hundreds of homes and businesses, while the flow of vehicles was paralyzed by water. 33 families were evacuated while the city witnessed electricity supply problems. / VOA