VZCZCXRO1564
OO RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG
DE RUEHTI #0221 0811637
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211637Z MAR 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6855
INFO RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RUEPGDA/USEUCOM JIC VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0927
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS TIRANA 000221 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE 
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA, AID/W for OFDA Rob Andrew & Anne Convery 
GENEVA PLEASE PASS TO USAID AND RMA 
BUDAPEST PLEASE PASS TO USAID/RFMC 
SOFIA FOR LEGAT ROBERTS 
DEPT OF JUSTICE FOR OPDAT, ICITAP 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: SENV EAID PREL AL
SUBJECT: ALBANIA DISASTER DECLARATION 
 
REF:  TIRANA 200 
 
¶1.  I hereby declare a disaster in Albania to assist the large 
number of people that were displaced from their homes and 
livelihoods by a massive explosion that occurred in Albania on March 
15 (reftel). I request USD 50,000 for immediate disaster relief from 
USAID/OFDA. 
 
¶2.  At approximately 11:45 AM March 15, an ammunition storage 
facility near the town of Gerdec, Albania caught fire.  Shortly 
after 12:00, a violent explosion destroyed homes in the immediate 
vicinity of the depot and caused damage to the airport terminal 4.6 
miles to the east and window damage as far away as Tirana 11 miles 
southeast.  The blast was heard in Skopje, Macedonia, over 100 miles 
to the east.  A second explosion a few minutes later was followed by 
multiple small explosions over the next several hours. 
 
¶3.  According to authorities almost three hundred people were 
injured, nineteen were killed, and thirty are missing.  The number 
of deaths will probably increase since there were reports that 
people were working in the depot on a munitions dismantling project 
at the time of the explosion.  It is also possible the actual number 
of injuries was higher.  Most of the injuries were minor, caused by 
flying glass and debris as far away as a major highway two miles 
away, although several people with more serious injuries were flown 
to Italy and Greece for emergency care. 
 
¶4.  According to information received from local authorities a 
number of buildings, including homes, have been totally destroyed. 
Some 1,700 buildings situated close to the explosion area are 
damaged, over 300 are totally destroyed and six schools are 
partially damaged.  Health clinics and other support facilities were 
also damaged and destroyed. 
 
¶5.  The GOA is responding with available resources consisting of 
military, police and civilian assets.  The initial response provided 
medical assistance to the injured and transportation to nearby 
hospitals in Tirana and Durres.  It is estimated that 4,000 people 
were evacuated from the area.  Some are accommodated by relatives in 
surrounding villages, while at least 700 were transported to nearby 
military facilities for shelter.  Recent reports indicate that 
number is growing. 
 
¶6.  The Albanian Red Cross conducted field visits and assessments 
and determined that there is a significant need for basic food and 
non-food items among the affected population.  Based on this 
assessment the International Federation of Red Cross and Red 
Crescent Societies (IFRC) has issued an appeal to provide immediate 
assistance in the form of basic food and non-food items to 3,200 
beneficiaries in the three most affected villages for a period of 
three months.  Food items consist of flour, rice, vegetable oil, 
sugar and beans.  Non-food items consist of blankets, hygiene kits, 
plastic sheeting, soap, washing powder and kitchen sets. 
 
¶7.  Experts provided by the Department of State and EUCOM estimated 
cleanup of the core area around the explosion will take at least one 
year, and possibly longer.  Thus, it is highly likely the displaced 
will require support for longer than three months. 
 
¶8.  The Government of Albania (GOA) has declared a state of 
emergency for the affected area and has conveyed to the U.S. Embassy 
that it will accept financial and humanitarian assistance. 
 
¶9.  I propose that OFDA disaster relief assistance, in the amount of 
USD 50,000, be used to support the IFRC appeal to meet the immediate 
needs of the displaced population. The U.S. Embassy will coordinate 
with the GOA and other donors to avoid duplication of effort. 
WITHERS