North Albania paralysed from heavy snowfall

Elina Demai - Albanian Times

Heavy snowfall in upper parts and heavy downpour accompanied by hailstorm in the plains, paralysed life in north Albania in the last few days.

Tropoja, Kukes and Peshkopija regions witnessed a heavy snowfall, triggering a punishing cold wave as mercury plunged to below zero degrees Celsius.

Upper parts of the region remained cut off from the rest of the country because of the heavy snowfall and all main and link roads were impassable. The snowfall also knocked out power and telecommunication systems in several parts of the region.

Shkoder and Malesi e Madhe and other districts received heavy rains, turning the weather cold and chilly.

Incessant and heavy snowfall over the last 4 days in the town of Peshkopija received 40 centimetres of snow. Mountainous areas received over a meter of snow, bringing life for the villages in the region to a standstill.

The snowfall began on Wednesday and continued to Sunday in the whole north Albania making life difficult for rural areas from Shkoder to Gjirokaster.

North received rains and heavy snowfall after a long warm weather where the area was flooded just a month ago due to warm temperatures and snow melting in the high mountains. All upper parts of the north district are difficult to pass and need extra care when driving, local authorities urge drivers to use snow chains take extra care.

Over the last three weeks, it was the second time that snow pounded different regions of the district.

The situation is some of the roads in the north:
Qafe Mali-Fierez, Difficult to drive, 40 centimetres of snow.

District of Iballa is blocked. From Shkoder to Dukagjin is passable via Mali i Shoshit with difficulties and using snow chains.

Qafe Mali - Qafe Shllak, is passable with difficulties and using snow chains. Traffic only opened to small cars whilst vans, lorries and other large automobiles are being stopped.

District of Arrnit, is blocked. In direction of Gryke Caj, Bushtrice, Zapod and Lekbibaj, is passable with difficulties and using snow chains.

Fierze - Qafe Mali and Bajram Curri - Krume, is mandatory using snow chains.

Peshkopi - Lure, is still blocked. Connection of Lure is difficult only via Kurbenesh.

Pogradec - Qafe Plloce, is one way traffic. Highway Voskopoje - Lekas, is still blocked.

Librazhd, blocked from snow are villages of Polis and Vilan whilst in district of Rrajce blocked are village of Skenderaj and district of Polis.

The bad weather comes just after a recent flooding in northern Albania where the area is just getting on its feet. Although the recent flooding was mainly caused by the hydro-central station due to the water being too high and the authorities were left with no options but open the gates station. Locals are blaming it all in the government for storing the water until the last minute whilst wanting to make money in exporting the energy to neighbouring countries.

Albanian authorities were obligated to open the gates of the hydro-central stations of Fierza, Koman and Vau i Dejes, which contributed to more flooding in Shkodra and several villages near the Adriatic Sea. (Albanian Times - Koha Shqiptare)