This Monday marks 25 years since the Otranto tragedy. The event took place on March 28, 1997, when the Albanian ship "Katri i Radës" was flooded in the Strait of Otranto by the Italian naval forces, where 81 people lost their lives, while the bodies of 23 victims were never found. 

Onboard the ship "Katri i Radës" off the coast of Vlora were 142 people of whom only 61 could survive. Today after 25 years there is still no justice for family members and survivors. 

On the 25th anniversary of this tragedy in Vlora, there was a lack of organization by the local government, while the commemoration was made by family members who went to the cemetery where the victims of the Otranto tragedy rest. For the families of the missing and victims in this tragedy, this 25th anniversary should have been a strong appeal to the state and the government in memory of those who lost their lives in the middle of the sea in search of a better life. 

Yllka Bala lost her sister and nephew. "We remember that day as if the event happened today. I have a concern as affected by this tragedy, I lost my sister and nephew. 2 people saved me. But I am sorry for the people here and for the local government that they did not take any measures for this marked day. The municipality had to do this. We are 25 years after and we have no justice for this. We won the trial but they did not return anything," she said. They expressed regret for the fact that today there is a lack of a memorial organization but also for the fact that they are still seeking justice today. 

The ship was destined for Brindisi, Italy, with the aim of a better life. Most of the drowned were women and children who were inside the ship and unable to escape due to the immediate drowning. The great exodus of Albanian emigrants to Italy had long since begun and in the turbulent years of 1997 departures by boat to the neighboring country were frequent. To avoid the illegal entry of migrants, the Italian naval forces immediately proceeded to block the ship, but during the intervention, the Italian ship "Sibilla" collided with the "Katrin e Radës" drowning it.