TIRANA, March 24 – The government has released an estimate of the financial damage Albanian farmers suffered due to the March 15 explosion which killed at least 22 persons and injured more than 300.
There were some 4,200 houses damaged, including 3,615 estimated to have significant damage ranging from minor damage, moderate to heavy damage, according to Prime Minister Sali Berisha who described the problem at a cabinet meeting.
Included in these numbers were also businesses belonging to farmers.
The total cost of the damage has so far been placed at 1. 6 billion leks. It covers not only the buildings but also equipment housed inside damaged buildings. The money will be available immediately to those whose property has been damaged.
The premier also said the government will try to compensate farmers whose fruit trees and other crops was damaged during the blast.
Also, new construction necessitated by the explosion will be excluded from taxation.
