Due to the deterioration of the weather in the last 24 hours, we expect heavy rainfall especially in the northern part of the country. This also confronts us with the risk of various emergencies throughout major part of the country. Therefore, I consider it necessary not only for the institutions, but also for the citizens to provide information and inform the public about the forecasts of the Institute of Geosciences regarding the flows in lakes, streams, rivers, and possible floods. as well as the measures to be taken by citizens, municipalities, prefectures and all other institutions of the EC system chain.
It was predicted, we have announced in the last 24 hours, that unstable weather and rainfall prevailed in the Drin river section. In the last 24 hours, an average of 65 mm has fallen in the basin of Koman, Vau i Dejës and about 30 mm in the basin of Fierza. The highest amount of rainfall was recorded in the Alps of Albania, about 120 mm in Theth, Valbona and about 100 mm in the area of Puka.
The rainfall so far has resulted into the following flow values: in Fierza 450 m3/sec, in Koman 56 m3/sec and Vau i Dejës around 130 m3/sec. So far, in the reports of the last 24 hours from the districts, we have no problematic situations in the districts of Shkodër, Kukës, Dibër and Lezhë. There may be flash floods of small mountain rivers and landslides in urban areas in these counties, localized flooding problems may occur depending on the condition of the sewers, but I want to make it known here that all municipal headquarters in the management of the prefect's institution are on standby. Measures have been taken. Municipalities have worked in time to prevent possible flooding with channel cleaning and other measures.
The generation in the cascade will be concentrated in the maximum mode at the Fierza HPP in the Koman, Vau i Dejës hydropower plant. Based on the information from the Institute of Geosciences, the current rainfall forecasts for the following days 17, 18, 19, and 20, as well as the hydrological forecasts for today and the following days are as follows:
For today, very intense rainfall is expected in Shkodër and Kukës districts, intense rainfall in Dibër and Lezhë districts, medium and locally intense in other districts of the country. In the districts of Shkodër, Kukës, Dibër, Lezhë, Elbasan, Vlorë and Gjirokastër, the rains are expected to be accompanied by thunderstorms. Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in almost all other areas of the country. More concentrated as we said and with higher intensity will be in the north of Albania. The flows in the Drin river cascade will increase from today's morning and will continue to increase until January 21 due to heavy rainfall. The hourly flow peak is expected to reach the following values: for Fierza 2500 m3/sec, in Koman 2200 m3/sec, Vau i Dejës 1100 m3/sec; the peak of the flow schedules in the river Drin is expected to reach up to 5800m3/sec.
The National Civil Protection Agency has brought to the attention of the municipalities since yesterday the increase in readiness of the structures of the Civil Protection System that have in their administration water reservoirs, road infrastructure, electricity supply, water supply, river level monitoring and any other structure, which is in function of EC management. Municipalities have made announcements about the population at risk and have increased the operational readiness of their capacities, specifically:
The Municipality of Shkodër reiterates the need to take measures to warn the population, especially in the areas surrounding Shkodra, to take measures to monitor the rivers of Buna, Kiri and Drini, and the continuous control of the condition of the river embankments and water catchment dams, control of the functionality of the hydrovores in the area of Velipoja, keeping in readiness the means of the road maintenance contractors.
Lezhë Municipality should take measures to warn the population especially in the endangered areas, monitoring the Drin river, continuous control of the embankments of the water catchment dams, control of the functioning of hydrovores in the area of Tale and Dorovica, keeping the tools of the road maintenance contractors on standby, keeping in readiness the logistical capacities and human resources of the operational forces to cope with any possible situation.
The municipality of Dibër should take measures to warn the population in time, especially in areas where there are streams, which are expected to increase the flow and risk blocking the roads, or the surrounding houses, the continuous control of the embankments and water catchment dams, keeping the vehicles ready for road maintenance in cooperation with contractors as well as all other logistical capacities of the emergency system.
Based on the forecast for the deteriorating hydrological situation at Vlora’s Bay, measures have been taken at the direction of the Prefect's Institution: it has been prohibited to grant departure permits during January 16, 17, 18 and 19 for all small fishing vessels that operate outside Vlora’s Bay and these vessels have also been notified for taking measures. Small watercraft and fishing vessels operating within Vlora’s Bay must take into account the predicted conditions and take measures for their safety.
The drivers of fishing vessels and small vessels have been notified of the worsening situation in the vehicle parking areas and the prevention of situations during January 16, 17, 18 and 19. Shipping vessels will continue to operate as normal. We expect up to around January 20th and 21st across the country, but especially in the areas I specifically mentioned, increased rainfall in areas above sea level.
Due to the decrease in temperatures, there will also be snowfall, so keep in mind that an emergency headquarters operates near each municipality.
In this difficult situation, all together and in cooperation, as it has now become consolidated, we will prioritize people's lives and their wealth afterwards, we will be in constant communication with the public for every situation and we also welcome the sharing of information not only from the system of institutions that works best but also from ordinary citizens who can sometimes be decisive to intervene in time and take measures, notifying us as early as possible of any local emergency appearing in the territory.
