Tirana - Hundreds of families have been evacuated as melting snow exacerbated flooding in northern Albania, local media reported Thursday. After days of heavy rains and melting snow, nearly 5,000 hectares of land and seven villages have been flooded, while 527 families were evacuated from Shkoder region.
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha on Wednesday called the situation "a potential catastrophe" and ordered an evacuation.
Many families refused to evacuate, fearing they would lose their cattle - the main source of income in rural areas.
The Albanian Power Company has opened the gates of three major dams on the Drin River in Shkoder area, raising the water level in the Fierza lake two metres above critical point.
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