30 Seconds That Took 51 Lives

30 Seconds That Took 51 Lives

30 seconds at 3:54am was all it took for the earthquake that struck Albania on Tuesday to claim 51 lives.

Despite the efforts of citizens, civil emergencies and specialized international teams, 24 Thumana citizens failed to be rescued in time from under the ruins of their dwellings.

7 members of two Cara families living in the same building gave their last breath under the rubble trying to survive.

On the 5th floor only Albert Cara managed to escape, but his wife along with his two sons, daughter and daughter-in-law, could not. Almiri and Stela had planned to get married during the coming summer, but fate had a different plan for them.

Having lived on the first floor Lindita Cara, who for more than 10 hours struggled and used all her effort to survive, did it thanks to the specialized interventions by the Greek and Albanian teams, but the earthquake proved deadly and not all victims shared the same fate.

Tragedy has also befallen the Lala family in Thumana, where their 4-year-old daughter and elderly grandmother lost their lives. A little girl who just wanted to stay overnight with her grandmother, a desire which lost her life, causing pain and despair to her emigrant father.

The earthquake struck and killed 3 members of the Gregu family. Parents and son Saimir, though recovered from the wreckage, failed to survive all the injuries they sufferred and pains caused after many hours of staying under rubble.

Sardi Çuka and his mother Fatmira Çuka took their last breaths from under the debris. Kastriot Cakoni and his daughter Drita Cakoni have also met with a tragic end, while her mother in hospital and yet to learn the sad truth about her loved ones.

Returning from England, Klement Çupi stayed in contact with Albanian and foreign teams for 16 hours. Unfortunately his heart could no longer bear the situation and he but succumbed to death with a frozen smile. His parents suffered the same fate.

Bukurije Leka, Aderina Kabili and Elios Gega bring the number of victims in Thumana to 24.

In Durrës, a further 24 casualties have been caused, the worst tragedy affecting the Lala family, which lost 3 generations - children, adults and the elderly. Not even embracing their mother Marjeta managed to save her two twins from the home that would claim their lives.

Black Tuesday was also the date of the last breath of 4 members of the Reçi family.

Painter Diena Karanxha, along with her 8-year-old daughter Esiela, are further victims of this earthquake that has proved relentless. Tragedy also befell the two Abazi brothers from Kosovo.

In the Lezha area, Evis Hoxholli, a 32 year old, jumped from altitude in an earthquake-induced panic; an act that unfortunately took the young man's life.

25-year-old Kristian Preçi also suffered injuries from the earthquake while he was at his apartment in Kurbin.

He got into his car and attempted to get to Laç Hospital as quickly as possible, but lost control of the car, resulting in a devastating and fatal accident.

The tragic earthquake also killed Xhesika Biçiku, who died in hospital today after spending the past 5 days in a coma.

Përktheu: Paola Pupla

EMISIONET