By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Memorie.al / The severe weather with heavy rain and snowfall that has engulfed not only our country but also our neighbors, such as Greece and Italy, over the last two or three days – even reaching apocalyptic proportions as seen last night (January 21) when Cyclone “Harry” struck southern Italy (prompting local authorities to issue a red alert) – is not an entirely unknown phenomenon. Our country has experienced and felt these “caprices” of the weather “on its own shoulders” quite often, not only during these three and a half decades of pluralism but also before the 1990s. In fact, during those years, it endured situations far more difficult than those of recent years. Scenes and situations like those of a few days ago (January 7-10, 2026), where almost the entire country was gripped by severe weather with heavy rain and snow, resulting in rivers bursting their banks and massive flooding in several districts, Albania has also witnessed in 1963, 1970, 1973, and 1985 – years still fresh in the memories of those who lived through them!
However, given that the pre-1990s regime (under both Enver Hoxha and his successor, Ramiz Alia), just as it kept countless extraordinary events secret, did not report (in the press, radio, or television) on the severe weather events that occasionally struck the country – especially regarding the loss of human life, and more! In fact, it considered and kept them secret, leaving people unaware of what was happening beyond their own town or village! The above, among other things, is revealed through secret archival documents (now declassified) from the Archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. There, the Administration and Studies Branch or the General Directorate within that ministry, in their daily operational communiqués, reflected not only the extraordinary events occurring in all districts but also the severe weather and its consequences.
Some of these documents regarding the severe weather that gripped the country in January 1985 were published a few days ago; in this article; we are publishing other documents belonging to December 1973. This period was also marked by severe weather with heavy rain and snow, massive flooding of lands, barns, and homes, and roads blocked by frost and avalanches, resulting in significant loss of human life. For more on this, we are informed by the archival documents in question, published for the first time with their respective facsimiles by Memorie.al.
ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS CONTAINING THE SECRET OPERATIONAL COMMUNIQUÉS OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS REGARDING SEVERE WEATHER WITH STRONG WINDS, BITTER COLD, STORMS, FROST, SNOWFALL, AVALANCHES, AND FLOODS THAT ENGULFED THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IN DECEMBER 1973
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
DIRECTORATE OF ADMIN. AND STUDIES Tirana, December 3, 1973
OPERATIONAL COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 284
SARANDA
On December 1, 1973, at 15:00, in sector (0938) of the Melçan-Leshnicë and Zminec region, a surveillance unit consisting of three soldiers was stranded due to severe weather. Two groups of civilians and military personnel were sent to their aid. At 23:05, the unit was located. (No further details provided).
On December 2, 1973, at 18:30, on Mount Gradishtë in the village of Nivicë-Bubar, the chief shepherd of that village, Minella Papagjika, 46 years old, from the village of Nivicë, married with 5 children, was found dead in the snow. By order of the prosecutor, the body was sent to the family, while the operational group will arrive at the scene on December 3, 1973.
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
DIRECTORATE OF ADMIN. AND STUDIES Tirana, December 4, 1973
OPERATIONAL COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 285
RRËSHEN
Due to the heavy snowfall that has fallen and continues to fall, communication, electricity, and work at the Kurbnesh and Spaç mines, as well as the Rubik Plant, has been suspended. The general situation is grave. In cooperation with Party and Government authorities, headquarters have been established in districts and zones, and measures are being taken to stabilize the situation.
GJIROKASTËR
On December 3, 1973, the critical level of the Drino River exceeded 8 cm (the normal level is 4 m), but it does not pose a danger.
DIRECTORATE OF POLICE
On December 3, 1973, at 19:30, the command of Unit 301 Bulqizë reports that there is only enough bread for two days for both the soldiers and the convicts. Due to a lack of carbide and a place for unloading chrome, work at the mine has been suspended since December 2, 1973. The road is blocked by snow. The Economic Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Mines has been notified.
At 19:50 on December 3, 1973, Peshkopia reports that an avalanche hit the village of Grykë-Nokë (Fushë-Aliaj), destroying the homes of villagers Selim Kariqi and Isuf Laçi. As a result, 17 people have lost their lives (the death toll is given with reservations). An operational group has been dispatched to the scene.
LEZHA reports:
On December 3, 1973, at the Zejmen agricultural cooperative, 4,080 chicks died, and at the Agricultural Enterprise, 2 calves and 30 piglets died. Drinking water has been cut off in the city.
KRUJA reports:
During the night of December 2, 1973, in the city of Laç and its outskirts, a massive storm tore down telephone and power lines. The city is without lights and water. The Superphosphate Plant has activated its backup power line and is operating with water from the reservoir, which will not last long. A main grid power line near the plant has snapped.
North of the village of Shullazë, all communication roads are blocked by ice. Industrial enterprises lack water. In Fushë-Milot, 9 concrete poles for motor pumps have collapsed. Telephone lines to the north have been cut. The Mamurras pumping station (hidrovori) is malfunctioning and not operating; the water has reached the 0-degree mark. In the Laç-Milot area, strong winds and frost continue. Measures have been taken to stabilize the situation.
SARANDA
Regarding the report in operational communiqué No. 284, dated December 3, 1973, on the death of Minella Papagjika: the operational group concluded that due to the snow and severe frost, he slipped into a ravine. There is no suspicion of a crime.
DIRECTOR
PILO SHANTO
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
DIRECTORATE OF ADMIN. AND STUDIES Tirana, December 5, 1973
OPERATIONAL COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 286
VLORA
On the morning of December 4, 1973, due to heavy rainfall, the canal coming from the Cement Factory burst its banks and flooded two blocks in Skelë. Water levels reached up to 50 cm inside residences. Following measures taken, the situation is stabilizing.
KRUJA
Due to severe weather with rain and storms, in the Laç–Milot zone, 6 poles of the Ulëz–Tirana line and 6 concrete poles of the Ulëz–Laç and Laç–Shkodër lines have collapsed. The Laç electrical substation is currently powered only by the Tirana line, which is capable of supplying all consumers. The city of Laç has electricity. The 6 kV Milot–Gurëz line is non-functional as 6 poles have collapsed. The Superphosphate Plant had two faults in the Plant–Substation power line, one of which has been resolved.
Due to a lack of water, the Plant has suspended production. The Motor-pump Station in Adriatik is not operating due to electrical system failures. Water supply for Laç is being conducted via water tankers (autobots). Measures are being taken to restore the electrical system. The Milot–Burrel highway is blocked, while the Milot–Rrëshen and Milot–Lezhë roads are open.
PUKA
The snow layer has reached 1 meter. In some locations, it reaches 3–4 meters. Roads are blocked. Headquarters have been established in the villages.
PESHKOPI
Regarding the report in operational communiqué No. 285, dated December 4, 1973, concerning the deaths of 17 people in the village of Grykë-Nokë from an avalanche: verification confirms 12 deaths, while 5 others are injured, one of whom is in critical condition. They have been hospitalized. 17 families from that village have been evacuated to the village of Çiras, as they were at risk from further avalanches. In the village of Murrë, two livestock barns have collapsed. There are no human or livestock casualties there.
DIRECTOR
PILO SHANTO
(Events in No. were reported via information to Comrade Hysni Kapo and the Information Bureau at the Prime Minister’s Office)
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
DIRECTORATE OF ADMIN. AND STUDIES Tirana, December 6, 1973
OPERATIONAL COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 287
LEZHA
During the last 24 hours in the Lezha district, an additional 2,420 incubator chicks and 42 piglets have died due to the cold. In Zejmen, 7 single-story houses and huts have collapsed. Measures have been taken to rehouse these families.
BURREL
The Burrel–Qafë-Buall highway is open, while Qafë-Buall–Bulqizë and Qafë-Buall–Martanesh remain blocked.
KUKËS
On December 3, 1973, Gjyle Refat Keqja, 57, born and residing in the village of Gurë-Kalis, was overcome by snow and lost consciousness while heading to the village mill. Several villagers found her and took her home, where she died shortly after.
On December 3, 1973, Preng Ndue Botiku, 25, born and residing in the village of Seriqe, was caught by an avalanche and died while cutting an oak tree 50–60 meters from his house. The body was located on December 4, 1973.
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
DIRECTORATE OF ADMIN. AND STUDIES Tirana, December 7, 1973
OPERATIONAL COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 288
FIRST DIRECTORATE
On December 5, 1973, at 17:00, at the “Mao Tse-tung” (Vau i Dejës) hydroelectric power plant, one phase in the lower part of the 2/D line switch exploded, damaging several components. The failure occurred due to internal electrical discharges within the plant itself. Voids dating back to the factory were found in the burst pipes. Damage is minimal. The line will be operational on December 6, 1973. The plant is currently operating on a single line, which also carries the load for the Ulëz and Shkopet plants, as several poles on those lines have collapsed. This overload may cause further failures. There are no outages in the national energy system. Measures are being taken to stabilize the situation.
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
DIRECTORATE OF ADMIN. AND STUDIES Tirana, December 10, 1973
OPERATIONAL COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 290
SKRAPAR
In the early hours of December 9, 1973, near the village of Ujanik, Dino Daut Çaushllari, 50, born in Zabërzan, Skrapar, and residing in Patos – an oil well worker – and his son Kastriot Çaushllari, 22, married, an oil well mechanic – were found dead in the snow.
KUKËS
At Qafë-Mal, the road has been blocked since 18:30 on December 9, 1973, by an avalanche. Communication is cut off. Measures are being taken to clear the road.
SHKODËR
On December 9, 1973, during snow clearing at the Zogaj border point sector, 6 broken wire strands were found. The station command concludes this was caused by the weight of the snow. / Memorie.al
DIRECTOR
PILO SHANTO
To be continued in the next issue
