Floods trap hundreds in northern Albania

Heavy rains have caused floods in northern Albania, prompting intervention of the military to help hundreds of trapped people.

According to Press TV, Albania’s defense ministry said on Friday that the floods left more than 9,230 hectares (22,800 acres) of agricultural land, including villages where boat is the only means of transport, submerged in the Shkodra region, 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the capital Tirana.

Army personnel have been deployed to the affected region and are evacuating residents and securing food supplies there.

The heavy rainfall in recent days has caused landslides, damaging scores of homes and flooding roads, the transport ministry said.

Albanian authorities were forced to release excess water from a hydroelectric plant, which also added to the flooding.

According to the weather forecast, the rain is expected to ease from Saturday.

ME