“Temperature, -25 degrees, snow 2 to 3 m., dozens dead from avalanches, thousands of hectares of land and houses flooded…” / The secret document is revealed regarding the severe weather that “brought Albania to its knees,” January 7-15, 1985

By Dashnor KALOÇI

Part One

Memorie.al / The extremely difficult situation the country is passing through these days as a result of bad weather are not unheard-of “music” for Albania. The floods, rivers bursting their banks, and significant damage to agricultural lands, residential houses, private businesses, economy, and infrastructure seem to follow the same “refrain” for decades. History is repeating itself even in details: exactly 41 years ago, precisely on January 7, 1985, a similar polar weather “brought the country to its knees,” from south to north. At that time, the damages were tragic – not only in residential houses, entire villages under water, agricultural lands and livestock, destroyed power and telephone networks, but also with dozens of lives lost to avalanches and frost.

The situation was so alarming that Enver Hoxha, although in serious health condition, is said to have personally followed the situation every day and urgently sent some of the ministers and nearly half of the members of the Politburo of the Central Committee to the hardest-hit areas, such as; Besnik Bekteshi, Hekuran Isai, Prokop Murra, Pali Miska, Muho Asllani, Simon Stefani, etc. Archival documents testify to an extraordinary mobilization, where the Ministry of Internal Affairs and its Branches in the districts reported two to three operational communiqués a day on the situation across all districts of the country.

While nature follows its centuries-old ritual, time for our governance seems to have stood still. Archival documents marked “Secret” (extracted from the Archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs) testify that the neuralgic points of 1985 are the same ones suffering today: The North and East: The blocking of the Vermosh road and the districts of Mirditë, Pukë, Kukës, Has, Tropojë, and Peshkopi. The Lezha and Kurbin area: Tale, Gjorm, Adriatik, the Droja river embankment, and the Thumana plain. Central and Southern Albania: The Murrash turn, the Gjinari highlands, and the areas along the Devoll, Shkumbin, Osum, Vjosa, and Seman rivers, and their pumping stations (hidrovoret). From the southeast to the southwest: From Korça and Erseka, to the Drino river in Gjirokastër or Bashaj-Matogjin in Vlora.

In this old and new map of floods, only one city was an exception in January 1985. According to the communiqués of the Ministry of Interior: “Durrës has no problems”! The above, etc., is made known through this series of writings with archival documents, facsimiles, and relevant photos that Memorie.al publishes for the first time, shedding light on one of the harshest winters of the last century and the shocking similarity with the challenges that haunt us today.

SECRET REPORT-INFORMATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR ON THE BAD WEATHER WITH HEAVY RAIN AND SNOWFALL THAT COVERED ALL OF ALBANIA ON JANUARY 7, 1985, AND THE DAMAGES CAUSED IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS BY FLOODS, BLOCKAGES OF NATIONAL ROADS, SNOW AVALANCHES, ETC.

                                                                                        S E C R E T

                                                                                         Single Copy

                                                                                   Tirana, on 8.1.1985

                                       I N F O R M A T I O N

ON SOME DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE BAD WEATHER PRECIPITATION OF JANUARY 7, 1985

According to information received from the Branches of Internal Affairs, on January 7, 1985, as a result of bad weather from rain and snowfall, there have been several damages, such as floods of houses and lands, blockages of motor roads, etc., which we are summarizing by district as follows:

TROPOJA

All internal communication roads and those with other districts are blocked. The Tropojë – Tirana line buses have not departed; work is underway to open the road. At the border, there are no concerning problems. Telephone and radio communication have functioned normally.

MATI

Until 20:00, Batër was blocked for the Luçan – Batër section. In Batër, the electrical substation supplying the camp with electricity was damaged (the power transformer burned out). The camp has had a lack of electricity and light bulbs. The snow depth in this area has reached up to 2 m. The Burrel – Bulqizë road is traversed with difficulty and only with chains. With the measures taken, the electricity supply was secured by motor and a contingent of light bulbs was sent from Burrel. The flour truck, until 20:00, had arrived near Luçan.

PESHKOPIA

The snow depth has reached up to 1.5 m. As a result, the Bulqizë – Peshkopi road is traversed with difficulty and only with chains. Measures are being taken to improve the situation. In some villages, the press (newspapers) has not arrived for four days and there is no electricity. In Lurë, a stable was damaged. Communication with the Cerjan and Rapdisht posts is not working. At the border, there are no concerning problems.

SHKODRA

On the Pukë – Koman pedestrian path, the brigade leader of the Palaj mine, Gjon Lulashi, was found dead from the snow. On the Shkodër – Vau i Dejës power line, three electric poles have fallen. The “Drini” plant remains without power. In Dukagjin, there is no telephone communication. The Koman-Dukagjin and Tamarë – Vermosh roads are blocked. On 6.1.1985, the city of Shkodër had a lack of electricity and drinking water, but with the measures taken, the situation has stabilized. At the border, there were no concerning problems.

PUKA

Roads with neighboring districts are blocked. Seven buses remain blocked at various points, as follows: the Kukës – Tirana line bus in Gojan, the Kukës – Tirana bus in Gjegjan, the Tirana – Kukës bus in Qafë Mali (Lajthizë), the Tirana – Kukës bus in Shkozë, one Puka bus in Rrapë, two Puka buses in Luf. All passengers are sheltered in the villages of Fushë-Arrëz and Pukë. Work is underway to open the blocked roads. As a result of the bad weather, a villager from Bugjon was found dead from a snow avalanche on 7.1.1985, and the same fate is likely to have befallen two others who were with him but have not been found.

KUKËSI

Snow has continued to fall during the night. The Kukës – Fushë-Arrëz road and the ones with Tropoja and Peshkopia are blocked. Work is underway for their unblocking. In Shikaj, Domaj, Pusi i Thatë, Çajmatrash, 7 stables have collapsed from the weight of the snow, as a result of which only 8 goats died. Cooperativists have taken measures to repair the stables. At the border, there were no concerning problems.

ELBASANI

The Gjinar – Bukonik and Kallogjer roads are blocked. Work is underway for their unblocking. There are no supply shortages. In Papër and Peqin, there were floods in some plots, but without damage.

FIERI

2,625 hectares of wheat, 1,573 ha of forage, 1,289 ha of unplanted land, 10 ha of vegetables, 30 ha of broad beans, and 3 stables have been flooded. According to the agricultural economies, the situation is as follows:

• Cakran: [missing figure] ha wheat
• Pojan: 110 ha wheat, 10 ha vegetables
• Seman: 131 ha wheat, 33 ha forage
• Zharza: 120 ha wheat, 40 ha forage
• Agimi: 120 ha wheat, 33 ha forage, 30 ha broad beans
• Sukstruma: 25 ha wheat, 60 ha unplanted land
• Kuman: 60 ha wheat, 30 ha planted land
• Kraps: 3 ha wheat, [missing figure] ha planted land
• Veria: 80 ha wheat, 128 ha planted land
• Frakulla: 12 ha wheat
• Bishan: 100 ha wheat, 60 forage, 130 ha planted land
• State Farm (N.B.) “Çlirim”: 546 ha wheat, 347 forage, 291 planted land
• State Farm (N.B.) “Seman”: 120 ha wheat
• Gërxhallia: 34 ha wheat
• Hoxhara: 1,004 ha wheat, 980 forage, 645 planted land
• Roskovec: 150 ha wheat
• Levan: 80 ha forage

One sheep stable in Bishan, two cow stables in Veri and Cakran. There is no damage to livestock. 113 residential houses have been flooded, 109 of which are in the city of Fier and 4 in Roskovec; 63 of them are shacks (baraka), while 47 are houses. By neighborhood: “1 Maji” 66 shacks, “Apollonia” 5 houses, “15 Tetori” 3 houses, “Kastrioti” 16 houses, “Liria” 9 houses, Roskovec 4 houses.

The water level of the rivers until 20:00 was increasing and approached critical levels; for example, Vjosa reached 4.87 m against the critical value of 5.5, Seman from 4.4 m (the critical level) reached 3.9 m, but later when the precipitation stopped, their levels dropped. With the measures taken, the oil wells that were disconnected were put back into operation. The district headquarters is taking measures to stabilize the situation.

SKRAPARI

Only two residential houses in the village of Luadh were damaged; their two families are sheltered with fellow villagers. The Potom – Gjerbës motor road is blocked.

RRËSHENI

The motor roads to Klos, Spaç, Kaçinar, and Kurbnesh are blocked. In Klos, two warehouses and one residential house were damaged. 10 quintals (kv) of medicinal plants were ruined. There are no other problems.

PËRMETI

The mule stable in Katundisht was damaged, where two mules died and four others were injured. In Xhanaj, 200 kv of straw were damaged by the wind. In the Kaludh plot over the Vjosa river, a mule fell due to strong wind, and the Culture House of Vinokash village was damaged.

LUSHNJA

2,630 ha of planted land are flooded: Divjaka 1,200 ha wheat, Bubullima 400 ha wheat, Tërbuf 800 ha wheat, Çermani 100 ha wheat, State Farm “Fitore” Fier-Shegan 60 ha wheat, State Farm Rremas 40 ha wheat. The water level of the Seman River was increasing and approached critical levels. In Tërbuf there was a 13 cm and in Karavasta a 20 cm increase, while Shkumbin and Seman had 31 and 35 cm increases respectively.

KRUJA

540 ha of flooded land identified:

• Mamurras Sector: 30 ha wheat, 37 ha forage
• Mamurras/1 Sector: 40 ha wheat, 40 ha forage
• Thumana: 20 ha wheat, 130 ha forage
• Adriatik: 50 ha forage
• Gjorm: 180 ha wheat, 120 ha forage

The Pumping Station (Hidrovor) level reached from -20 to -40 cm.

VLORA

Reports that in the village of Bashaj-Smokthinë there was a landslide and two houses collapsed, while six others are at risk of collapsing later. Measures were taken to shelter their residents in villagers’ houses. In the village of Qeparo, they say there are damages to citrus trees, but the exact figure is unknown. The level of Vjosa rose to 4.87 against the critical 5.5 m.

LIBRAZHDI

The Qurisht and Steblëvë – Fushë-Studen roads are blocked. At the border, there are no problems.

Lezha, Gramshi, Korça, Erseka, Gjirokastra, Saranda, Berati, Tepelena, and Durrës have not had any concerning problems or damages of this nature.

Note: According to the latest reports, at 06:00 of today’s date, the truck with flour and other items arrived in Batër. Telephone lines in all districts function normally, with the exception of the Berat and Shkodër telephone lines, but the possibility of connecting with them through other routes exists. In the Fier pumping station, only 4 out of 7 pumps function because the motors are burned out.

OFFICER ON PERMANENT DUTY

SECRET REPORT-INFORMATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED JANUARY 9, 1985, ON THE EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC SITUATION PREVAILING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY DUE TO BAD WEATHER

S E C R E T

                                                                                        Single Copy

                                                                                     Tirana, on 9.1.1985

                                           I N F O R M A T I O N

The bad weather has continued with heavy precipitation across the entire country. In mountainous areas, there was snow. Snow depth in Tropojë reached 1.7 – 2 meters, in Kukës 1.2 – 2 m, Peshkopi about 1 m. In other areas, there were heavy rains, particularly in the Përmet – Gjirokastër area, where there were storms. Vjosa reached 6.28 m in the Tepelena area, while Drin approached the critical zone by 30-35 cm in the Tale-Balldren area of Lezha.

As a result of the bad weather, the roads to Tropojë and Kukës are blocked, while the Peshkopia line buses remained in Shupenzë and Melaj. People have scattered through the villages to spend the night. The Përmet-Leskovik and Vlorë – Selenicë roads are damaged and not working. There have been floods in the Vlora and Fier areas. In Fier, 7,374 ha of land are flooded, of which 2,988 ha are wheat, 2,431 ha are forage, 1,915 ha are unworked land, 10 ha are vegetables, and 30 ha are broad beans.

In Vlora, 30 ha of wheat land, 23 ha of forage, 20 ha of nurseries, etc., are flooded. Houses, stables, livestock, etc., have been damaged. In Bishan of Vlora, one house collapsed; in Risili, two houses. In Fierzë, a snow avalanche buried 10 people, where 1 person died, while in Pukë, 5 people died from a snow avalanche. 6 stables in Kukës and 5 in Përmet were damaged. Communication lines Korçë-Pogradec (near Zervaska) were damaged, as well as several telephone lines in border posts: Dragobia area (Tropojë), Zapot – Shishtavec area (Kukës), Cerjan – Rabdisht – Gjinovec (Dibër), Qarishtë – Librazhd, Udënisht – Qafë-Thanë (Pogradec), Llongo – Kakavijë (Gjirokastër).

The power line in Turaj, Kukës, was damaged; 12 centrifugal electric poles have fallen. The wind uncovered the barracks and kitchen at the Leshnica post and windows were broken and doors and windows damaged at the Konispol post. Generally, the supply situation is good, except for Shupenza of Peshkopia which remained without flour (the Chairman of the Executive Committee and the Head of the Internal Affairs Branch went to the site and the problem was solved). In Fier and Vlora, headquarters were set up to take the necessary measures for the situation created.

OFFICER ON PERMANENT DUTY

HASAN LEKA

SECRET REPORT-INFORMATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED JANUARY 9, 1985, ON THE EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC SITUATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY FROM BAD WEATHER AND THE DEATH OF 23 PERSONS FROM SNOW AVALANCHES IN THE PUKA AND PESHKOPIA DISTRICTS

                                                  I N F O R M A T I O N

As a result of snow avalanches falling from the 3rd to the 9.1.1985, the following persons have died in total: Hil Mala, Gjon Kamberi, Drane Kamberi, Filip Bregu, Pal Malaj, Zef Smajli, Pal Balaj, Lug Mahmuti, Zoje Marku, Lazër Përgecaj, Liperi Kola, Drane Përgeci, Mara Pali, Shkurte Përgecaj, Pashk Qerimi, Ludovik Qerimi, Gjin Pjetri, Dedë Kola, Mark Marashi, Kol Staka, and Rrok Ndou and Dul Ndoja were seriously injured. This happened in Puka in the Iballë area.

In Tropojë on 9.1.1985, the snow depth went to 1.75 m; roads do not function in all directions.

In Kukës, all roads do not function.

In Tirana, as a result of snowfall, the Qafë-Krraba road is blocked, and the Tirana-Dajt road up to Linzë.

In Dibër, as a result of snow avalanches on the 9th, Rabije Piraj from Lugjan village, Sali Deda from Gurë-Lurë village and Xhelal Hysa from Lajshkizë village died./Memorie.al

OFFICER ON PERMANENT DUTY

To be continued in the next issue