The Ministry of Defense has released an update on the wildfire situation across the country over the past 24 hours, during which 25 fires were reported.

According to official data, 4 fires remain active, while 1 other is under monitoring.

A total of 350 operational personnel and 26 fire engines have been deployed in firefighting operations. They have also been supported by the Armed Forces, with 140 personnel, 3 helicopters and 2 Air Tractor aircraft.

The main active fires have been recorded in Dajt and Priskë in Tirana, Lufaj in Mirditë and Tërbun in Pukë.

Announcement:

Ministry of Defense—update on the wildfire situation over the past 24 hours

The Ministry of Defense reports that 25 fires were recorded over the past 24 hours, of which 4 remain active and 1 is under monitoring.

A total of 350 operational personnel and 26 fire engines have been deployed in firefighting operations, while the Armed Forces have provided support with 140 personnel, 3 helicopters and 2 Air Tractor aircraft.

The main active fires are in Dajt and Priskë, Tirana; Lufaj, Mirditë; and Tërbun, Pukë.

In Dajt, the operation is continuing with 50 Armed Forces personnel, 15 firefighters and 5 National Agency of Protected Areas personnel, with no risk to residential areas.

In Tërbun, local authorities, volunteers and the Armed Forces remain extensively engaged, with support from 2 helicopters. There is no risk to homes there either.

The situation is also improving at several fires reported in recent days: the fires in Gurë-Lura, Bruçi in Mat, Tharri in Mirditë and Selenicë have been fully extinguished, while monitoring and operations by local forces are continuing in Qafë Helmes.

Civil Protection teams are continuing their work and on-site monitoring, focusing on fully containing the active fires and protecting residential areas.

The post Wildfire Situation in Albania: 4 Fires Still Active—Here Are the Most Affected Areas appeared first on Albeu.com.

Eleven bodies have been found in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya by an aircraft searching for migrant vessels in distress, the NGO SOS Mediterranee said on Friday.

According to the organization, the crew of the Albatross aircraft spotted several of the bodies, while others were still wearing life jackets. All the victims were in an advanced state of decomposition.

The aircraft is operated by SOS Mediterranee in cooperation with the Humanitarian Pilots Initiative as part of efforts to identify and report emergencies along the Mediterranean migration route.

The Italian Coast Guard confirmed that it had been notified by NGOs on Thursday morning about the discovery of the 11 bodies, around 57 nautical miles, or approximately 106 kilometers, from the Libyan city of Zuwara.

Italian authorities said the bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition and that the area where they were found falls within the Libyan Coast Guard’s area of responsibility. They said the information was immediately passed on to the relevant Libyan authorities.

However, it has not yet been disclosed whether the Libyan side took any action following the notification.

SOS Mediterranee stressed that the circumstances and exact time of the shipwreck that may have caused the deaths of the 11 people remain unclear.

The organization described the discovery as further evidence of the tragic human consequences of European migration policies, which it said are characterized by curbing migration “at all costs” and the lack of an adequate humanitarian response.

The bodies were found along one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes. The central Mediterranean route, used by thousands of people attempting to reach Europe from North Africa, has recorded a high number of deaths and missing persons over the years.

According to data from the International Organization for Migration, part of the United Nations system, at least 872 people have died or been reported missing in the Mediterranean since the beginning of this year.

The latest figures once again underscore the scale of the humanitarian crisis along this route, where journeys in unsafe vessels continue to claim lives.

The post Another Tragedy on the “Route of Death”: 11 Victims Found off the Libyan Coast, Bodies in Advanced Decomposition appeared first on Albeu.com.

This Friday, the Vlorë Municipal Police launched an operation to restore free public access to spaces in beach areas that had been illegally occupied, obstructing pedestrians and holidaymakers.

The operation began after the deadlines for voluntarily clearing these areas had expired and following repeated notices issued to the responsible businesses. Where the requests were not complied with, the necessary measures were taken to return the spaces to public use.

The Public Services Enterprise and the Vlorë Municipal Police said inspections and operations targeting the unlawful occupation of public spaces will continue to ensure free and equal access for all residents and holidaymakers.

The post Vlorë Launches Operation to Clear Public Spaces in Beach Areas appeared first on Albeu.com.

The first fatality has been recorded from the powerful storm that has recently gripped Kosovo.

According to local media, a 61-year-old man died in Pozheran, Viti.

The tragic incident was confirmed by Valon Osmani, the police spokesperson for the Gjilan region, who said that due to the worsening weather conditions, the victim is suspected to have accidentally slipped on the floor of his home’s balcony at around 16:30, sustaining severe head injuries that proved fatal.

Immediately after the incident, the elderly man was reportedly taken by ambulance to the Emergency Center at Gjilan General Hospital, where the doctor on duty pronounced him dead.

“The relevant police units attended the scene and, in coordination with the State Prosecutor, are taking all necessary investigative measures to fully establish and clarify the circumstances of this case. By order of the State Prosecutor, the body has been sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Pristina for an autopsy,” Osmani said.

It has also been confirmed so far that two people from the village of Pozheran sustained minor injuries after the storm knocked down the gates to the yards of their homes.

The post First Fatality Recorded in Powerful Storm in Kosovo: Elderly Man Slipped on His Balcony and Fell Headfirst to the Ground appeared first on Albeu.com.