A man was found dead Thursday in the city of Durrës, as severe weather has battered Albania for several days. Rescue teams are continuing evacuations in several regions of the country, which has been hit by heavy rains that have caused widespread flooding.
According to Albanian authorities, the victim, a municipal employee A 55-year-old woman who had been missing since Tuesday was found in a drainage canal and is believed to have been swept away by the floodwaters. In the southwest of the country, particularly around the towns of Fier and Vlora, rescue workers used boats to evacuate residents trapped in their homes after the Vjosa River rose rapidly, its level exceeding nine meters.
Emergency services reported working around the clock to pump water out of approximately 800 homes and buildings. Nearly 300 people have already been temporarily housed in military and police facilities, while authorities attempt to limit property damage and public health losses.
The severe weather is not limited to Albania. Throughout the Western Balkans, rain, snow, and cold temperatures are disrupting transportation and the supply of electricity and drinking water. In Kosovo, after several days of flooding, the rain turned to snow on Thursday, while Bosnia and Herzegovina is also experiencing significant snowfall.
In Sarajevo, residents reported significant traffic difficulties due to unplowed streets, particularly for pedestrians. Local authorities are urging caution in the face of what they consider dangerous weather conditions.
Further north, in Croatia, a temperature of -14 degrees Celsius was recorded Thursday morning in Zagreb. Meteorologists are forecasting another cold snap expected Sunday, with even lower temperatures, increasing concerns in a region already hard hit by winter weather.
