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Rain floods out thousands in Albania
TIRANA, Albania, Dec. 5 UPI -- United Press International : Unrelenting
rainfall has flooded more than 34,000 acres in Albania and forced at least
12,000 people from their homes, state media said Sunday.
Albanian President Bamir Topi told a news conference in Tirana late
Saturday at least 2,500 homes are submerged in water, the state-run ATA news
agency said.
The northwestern city of Shkoder was hit hard by flooding this week, with
many residents taking to small boats to flee their homes, CNN said.
Topi declared a national emergency earlier in the week as rain soaked
southeastern Europe and triggered flood emergencies in Bosnia, Montenegro and
Serbia.
Albanian police and soldiers have been deployed to assist in evacuating
people as officials kept wary eyes on water levels at hydro-electric dams,
local reports said. Helicopter crews were distributing food and supplies to
people trapped by the flooding, CNN said.
The country has asked for assistance from NATO, but there were no further
details on the request midday Sunday.