Experts: Natural phenomena in Albania have become more aggressive in the last decade

2023-02-05 22:14:15Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Experts: Natural phenomena in Albania have become more aggressive in the last decade

Climate changes are becoming more sensitive in Albania in recent years, especially during the winter season. Some natural hazards, mainly related to floods and landslides, are bringing more and more consequences. In the Gjirokastra District, in addition to damage to road axes, natural phenomena also endanger residential areas from time to time.

The drone footage shows that the bed of this mountain stream in the area of ??Grehoti in Gjirokastër is increasing the risk, not only for the road segment that connects the city with this residential area, but also for the houses of the residents built years ago, without a curriculum, in an informal area.

Such phenomena prove that climatic changes have become more sensitive, especially during the winter season, says the hydrotechnical engineer, Vangjel Muço.

"The consequences of natural hazards in the Drino Valley area depend on the natural phenomena that have become more aggressive in the last ten years. The rains are more intense in recent years and fall in a shorter period compared to the multi-year periods of the years others where this rainfall phenomenon was distributed over time.

Mr. Muço draws attention to the consequences that are appearing from floods and landslides.

"Not only in this district, but also in a wider area, we have landslides, we have landslides in the territories where the national, urban and rural roads pass, we also have visible erosion of the lands where the river beds pass. Landslides have recently appeared in built-up urban areas that damage residential buildings.

In addition to natural phenomena that have become more extreme, another factor that is increasing the consequences is the lack of attention to maintenance programs, says the engineer who has a long experience with hydraulic works.

"The maintenance and addition of works to eliminate such phenomena has been out of the center of attention from the relevant organizations, from the instances that are responsible for the treatment of the territory in terms of its consolidation so as not to be affected by these phenomena."

Mr. Muço further says that local governments should be supported. Territorial reform was indeed done, he says, but it has not provided sufficient support with means and funding to cope with such situations.

Mr. Muço appreciates the fact that local governments play a role in emergency interventions, but according to him they must have the power and capacity to cope with these phenomena in a sustainable and long-term way.

I notice that the local government, whenever natural emergencies appear, takes measures, organizes itself with as much power as it has to avoid a worsening of the situation and a prolongation of asphyxiation, either of traffic or of the quality of life of citizens.

One of the parts of the territory that is feeling the consequences of the landslides the most is the road infrastructure. Often damage from landslides is not recovered, such as the area on the Levan-Tepelen axis where a short segment occupied by stones has been in that situation for almost 5 years.

This year's winter has brought consequences from landslides for two road segments, that of Gjirokastër - Këlcyre and the new road axis Kardhiq - Delvinë, says Aristotel Noni, engineer at the Regional Road Authority in Gjirokastër.

We are working on two fronts, on the Kardhiq-Delvin road axis and on a segment in Këlcyre affected by the landslides. In the new Kardhiq Delvinë axis, as a result of the geological instability of the escarpments where the road passes, we have had soil fall, solid deposits", etc.

Mr. Noni further says that investments and programs of prevention and protection against extreme natural phenomena should be strongly measured, as the consequences increase and then much larger funding is required. He mentions in these investments the mountain ambush system, afforestation and protective measures with retaining walls against erosion.

According to a World Bank Report that refers to the International Database of Disasters in Albania during the years 1979-2019, floods accounted for the majority of natural disasters at around 38%, followed by earthquakes at around 15%.

According to the annual World Risk 2021 report based on exposure and vulnerability for 181 countries in the world, Albania has a high risk index and ranks first in Europe and 61st in the world.

According to the report, floods cause an average of 50 million dollars in damage every year, as well as an impact on the Gross Domestic Product of 200 million dollars, affecting an average of 50,000 people every year./ VOA

Video