Albania ends search for missing persons, 50 die in earthquake

REUTERS/Florion Goga

The search for the missing persons under the rubble of buildings demolished in the deadly earthquake has finished, Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Saturday, noting that the death toll has risen to 50.

According to preliminary information, Rama said, over 1,400 buildings in the capital Tirana and some 900 in the nearby town of Durres were destroyed in the 6.4 magnitude quake which hit the country Tuesday early morning.

He promised that all those whose homes were destroyed will get “stronger houses” in 2020.

Some 2,000 citizens sustained injuries in the earthquake and at least 4,000 were left homeless.

Thousands were accommodated in hotels, and some temporarily moved either to neighbouring Kosovo or the eastern parts of the country.

Many countries including Turkey, Italy, France, Greece, Serbia and Montenegro sent assistance to Albania to recover from the consequences of the devastating earthquake.