VZCZCXRO2617
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHTI #0006/01 0071548
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071548Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8713
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000006 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SCE:JISMAIL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV EAID SENV SOCI PHUM AL
 
SUBJECT: WIDESPREAD FLOODING IN NORTHERN ALBANIA 
 
TIRANA 00000006  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Albania continues to experience heavy flooding 
around the northern cities of Shkoder and Lezhe and the Drini River 
Delta.  Media has reported that approximately 10,000 acres in the 
coastal floodplain are flooded.  Initial reports from the GOA are 
that 870 houses have been destroyed by flooding as well.  The road 
connecting Shkoder to Tirana is reportedly only passable by 
high-clearance vehicles, and the road connecting Tropoje (in 
Northern Albania) to the rest of the country is currently 
impassable.  The government has established a Civil Emergency 
Command Center, which moved today to Shkoder.  The Ministry of 
Interior reported today to Post that it has evacuated 2000 
inhabitants to date and that 1000 inhabitants in the region remain 
at risk and may be evacuated in coming days.  The GOA submitted an 
official request for assistance today in NATO's Euro-Atlantic 
Disaster Response Coordination Center (EADRCC).  Yesterday, Post 
convened an Emergency Action Task Force.  The Consular Section is 
drafting a warden message to American citizens and has contacted 
known Amcits in Shkoder and Lezhe.  Post has approximately $25,000 
funds in the Ambassador's Emergency fund.  Any other assistance will 
require a declaration of national disaster by the Albanian 
Government.  End Summary. 
 
 
OVERALL SITUATION 
----------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Major floods have been ongoing for the past 48 hours in 
northwestern Albania, in the Drini River Delta area, affecting the 
regions of Shkoder and Lezha.   The area flooded is approximately 
10,000 acres in the coastal floodplain.  13 villages around Shkoder 
and Lezhe are at risk of flooding.  The villages of Dajc and Obot 
have been hit the hardest to date.  Rains are continuing and are 
anticipated throughout the weekend. The current temperature of 
approximately 50 degrees is contributing to snow melt in the 
mountains which is exacerbating the flooding. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The Major hydro-electric dams of Fierze, Konan and 
Vaudejes are all at risk of overflowing.  Today in a press 
conference, Minister of Energy Dritan Prifti declared that the 
Ministry is maintaining safe water levels in the dams by producing 
electricity at full capacity and by releasing water through the 
dams' flood gates.  However, Fierze is especially close to maximum 
limits (292 meters, where as the limit is 296).  Nevertheless, the 
Minister of Interior told Post on January 6 that the three dams are 
releasing water via the floodgates at only 25 percent of capacity, 
meaning they have a good deal of excess release capacity left if 
need be. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Media reports that the main national road connecting 
Shkoder and Tirana is covered by 50cm of water and only large trucks 
can pass.  The road is being used for the evacuation, with vehicles 
traveling both north and south.  All low clearance vehicles are 
being turned-around from flooded areas of the road by police 
officials.  Major roads and bridges north of Shkoder (including the 
Muriqan border crossing) are currently clear, open and in use. 
 
GOA ACTIONS 
----------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The GOA has declared an "Emergency Situation" but has not 
made an official disaster declaration.   A Civil Emergency Command 
Center has been established.  Today the center moved to Shkoder. 
150 additional police officers are supporting local police to 
evacuate the area, especially Dajc and Obot. The Ministry of 
Interior reports that it has evacuated 2000 inhabitants from these 
two villages; there are still 1000 in their homes. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The GOA has a contingency fund of approximately $80 
million.  They can tap into this fund if necessary but to date no 
requests have come for any support connected to the flooding. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The GOA confirmed to Post that it has submitted an 
official request for assistance today in NATO's Euro-Atlantic 
Disaster Response Coordination Center (EADRCC).  Foreign Minister 
Meta will hold a meeting with European and US Ambassadors and 
Charges to make an official request for assistance.  The GOA has 
also announced that it is in consultations with the commissar of 
Italy's largest dams. 
 
US ACTIONS 
---------- 
¶8.  (SBU) Yesterday, the Embassy convened an Emergency Action Task 
Force, to monitor the situation and make contingency plans. 
There are eight Peace Corps volunteers residing in Shkoder and 
Lezhe. However, they are returning today to Tirana today for 
in-house training.  As of 1600 Tirana time, four of the volunteers 
had arrived in Tirana.  We believe there are 17 other Amcits in 
 
TIRANA 00000006  002 OF 002 
 
 
these regions.  The consular section has attempted direct contact 
with the known Amcits, but a few phones and e-mail addresses 
registered are not responding.  The consul section has been in 
contact with most of these Amcits and is preparing a general warden 
message. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) USAID is in close contact with their Office of Disaster 
Assistance in Budapest.  Potential funds that can be provided 
immediately is $50,000 but only if the GOA issues an official 
disaster declaration.