Floods return, as heavy rains cover northwestern region

TIRANA, Jan. 22 – More than 5,000 hectares were flooded in northwestern Albania following heavy rain in the last few days. Areas in Lezha and Shkodra districts were underwater Wednesday after three days of heavy rain. Local authorities said were making their utmost to keep working the necessary equipment and infrastructure not to have a repeat of last year. Flooding has turned into an annual occurrence in those two districts and authorities say they have made changing infrastructure to prevent flooding a top priority. In another, weather-related event, Bankers Petroleum Albania reported that Monday morning, due to very severe weather and thunderstorms some crude oil tanks were hit by lightning strikes causing fires. Its team in cooperation with Albpetrol and Fieri fire departments managed to keep the situation under control and put out the fires It had minimal material damages but no injuries, the company said in a statement.