A 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit the capital of Albania, Tirana, in the Balkans Saturday afternoon. The quake caused serious property damage and some 30 people were injured. The disaster forced people out of their houses and into the streets to avoid falling objects.
Albania’s defence ministry said it was “the strongest earthquake in the country in last 20 to 30 years”.
The epicentre of the quake, with a magnitude of 5.6 and a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles), was located near Durres, less than 40 kilometres west of the capital Tirana, according to the US Geological Survey, reported News18.
“There are no deaths,” Albania’s defence ministry spokeswoman Albana Qajaj said.
“Some 20 people went to the hospital for light injuries caused by (falling) objects or parts of walls as well as for panic attacks,” she told AFP.
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