An earthquake of magnitude (M) 6.4 struck Albania on November 26, 2019. The epicenter was located 16 km from the town of Mamurras, with a hypocenter depth of 20 km. The earthquake caused significant damage to structures near the epicenter, including multi-story residential buildings, schools, hospitals, and hotels. The coastal city of Durrës, located 21.5 km from the epicenter (population approximately 122,000), was the most affected area. The region affected by the recent earthquake is known for its seismic activity. Seven earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 6.0 have occurred within the past 100 years in a 150 km radius from the epicenter, including the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Montenegro on April 15, 1979, whose epicenter was 75 km away from this earthquake’s epicenter. The epicenter is situated near the boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, whose relative motion caused the recent earthquake. Detailed information about seismic hazard in this region can be found on the website of the American organization. USGS.

The earthquake in Albania caused severe damage or collapse to 5,497 houses and 556 apartment buildings, while 3,520 houses and 335 apartment buildings sustained minor damage. According to media reports, 51 people lost their lives and around 2,000 were injured during the earthquake.

Most of the damaged buildings were reinforced concrete frame structures with masonry infill walls. In most cases, the infill walls suffered significant damage. The masonry consisted of hollow bricks laid horizontally—unlike the more common vertical placement used worldwide. In several cases, reinforced concrete frame structures sustained significant damage, and a few such buildings even collapsed. Older residential buildings with unreinforced masonry walls (solid bricks) and concrete slabs also experienced damage. In the vicinity of the epicenter, there are many prefabricated buildings constructed using large-panel systems, and these buildings generally did not suffer damage due to the earthquake. Based on available information, it can be concluded that some structures in the coastal area (e.g., the city of Durrës) were damaged also due to geotechnical effects such as soil liquefaction.

More detailed information regarding the behavior of buildings during this earthquake can be found on the following websites:

Lekkas, E., Mavroulis, S., Papa, D., Carydis, P. (2019). The November 26, 2019 Mw 6.4 Durrës(Albania) earthquake. Newsletter of Environmental, Disaster and Crises Management Strategies, 15, ISSN 2653-9454.

Stein, R.S., and Sevilge, V. (2019). Albania earthquake strikes highest-hazard zone in the Balkans, devastating nearby towns.