Northwestern Albania was struck by a strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake on 26 November 2019. According to a CNN report, the epicenter of the quake, which is the strongest to hit Albania in 40 years, was in the port city of Durres, about 36 kilometers (22 miles) from the capital Tirana. CNN reports furthermore, that social media videos from the area show several buildings have collapsed. According to AP, the total death toll is at 51 while about 2,000 people were injured.
On Tuesday, 26 November 2019, Ylli Doci, the President of the Albanian Evangelical Alliance, sent the following report to the European Evangelical Alliance’s General Secretary, Thomas Bucher: “Visiting two of the most damaged areas (while just now again feeling another tremor) learned about more than 20 deaths. Several large buildings severely damaged and at least 5 I saw flattened. I met one father who was not happy for being alive because his wife and 18 year old son are still in the ruins. As I was walking to the scene a cousin of mine approached me and told me of his brother’s daughter who was sent to the hospital alive with her husband but their 5-year old daughter and the mother in-law, both grandma and granddaughter, are still in unaccounted for. Together with the general secretary of the Evangelical Alliance we visited with pastors and prayed for them to continue to be God’s eyes, hands and feet to their neighbors. We sent a few boxes full of emergency supplies at the medical center nearby the affected area but we will know more about what is needed in the next hours and days as the emergency efforts of the government and first responders subsidies and our churches gather more info.”
On the same day that the earthquake occurred, the Kosovar Evangelical Alliance announced that it would send a truck with relief supplies. Further Evangelical Alliance representatives in the Balkans also announced that they would like to help. Thomas Bucher, General Secretary of the EEA, was very impressed by these acts of solidarity in times of need.
Please help us to support our brothers and sisters in the affected areas in Albania and to provide real help in times of need. You can support the relief efforts on the ground in Albania with your donation. (please state the intended purpose “Earthquake Albania” when making your donation)
You can also follow this link to help Albanian churches assist earthquake victims.
