Member-only story
“We Have Lost Human Lives. We Have Also Saved Many Lives.”
After a devastating earthquake, the Albanian people hold fast to hope, one another, and their friends in the international community.
“We have lost human lives. We have also saved many lives.” — Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama
While people in the U.S. were celebrating Thanksgiving last week, the people of Albania were searching through rubble in the aftermath of the biggest earthquake that country has endured in decades.
Desperate rescue efforts were conducted on ground that continued to shake as the death toll climbed steadily in the wake of a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that hit Albania in the early hours of Tuesday, November 27.
30 terrible seconds had reduced houses and buildings to rubble, with shocked survivors frantically searching the wreckage for lost loved ones.
On Wednesday, Albanians held a national day of mourning as aftershocks continued to rattle rescue workers and survivors.
Thousands of people were injured and more than half of the country’s population have been impacted by the 6.4 magnitude earthquake. Over 10,000 people have been left homeless and at least 51 people were killed, including entire families.