TIRANA, Jan. 7 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha said a state of emergency may be declared to cope with the consequences of the widespread flooding in northwestern Albania.
“If obliged we shall operate under the state of emergency situation. If obliged to save human lives we shall declare the state of emergency in that area,” said Berisha at a news conference Thursday. “I do not exclude that decision is taken today.”
Authorities have been obliged to discharge water from the reservoirs of the three hydropower stations at the Drini River reaching their top levels these days with heavy rainfall.
Thousands of people are being evacuated from northwestern Shkodra district, 120 kilometers north of capital Tirana.
Government says the flooding was caused by a natural catastrophe while the opposition Socialist party accuses the authorities for mishandling the situation.
Hydroelectric power generated from the Drini River covers the bulk of Albania’s energy needs and has not been hindered by the floods.
