Torrential rain, flash floods hit western Albania, killing three

TIRANA, Nov. 19 – Heavy rain has caused at least three deaths and has flooded many areas in western Albania on Tuesday night, according to the government and the local media.
The Lezha area was worst hit, with roads overrun by water and thousands of hectares of agricultural land flooded on Nov. 18.
Army and police units responded to the situation, authorities said, and a civil emergency headquarters was set up, led by Defense Minister Mimi Kodheli and Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri.
The next morning, the situation improved as the rain stops, but the flash flooding had left behind damage not only in Lezha but other parts of the country as well, including in Tirana.
Speaking to local media from Lezha Tuesday evening, Agriculture Minister Edmond Panariti said that some 130 millimeters of rain had fallen in a very short time, flooding areas around the towns of Lezha and La笠80 and 60 kilometers northwest of Tirana. The storm also cut the power supply and endangere many houses, Panariti said.
Authorities were concerned on emptying the power station from water and had committed four firefighting trucks to that task. He said they were geared to work on the problem into the next day.
Some schools were closed Wednesday as they were still under water.
Local media said the three casualties of the bad weather were in the Lac area. They reported two members of the family died when their car taken over by the flash flood and a third person was found dead near the river in Lac.
Rain also flooded main streets, some apartments and shops in Tirana and the western port city of Durres.
The government has sent about 80 army troops, firefighters and other personnel and said it was ready to evacuate people under water if necessary.
Emergency personnel all around the country held meetings trying to cope with the situation.