A year ago today, November 26, 2019, Albania was shaken by the strongest earthquake in decades, two days before Independence Day.  

It was 03:56, when a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale, which lasted for about 50 seconds, hit Durrës and Tirana, taking the lives of 51 people and injuring 913 others. 

The consequences of this shocking earthquake were even more tragic, as 202.000 people were affected, and hundreds of homes were destroyed. 

Apartment buildings, houses, schools collapsed; people seeking help; ambulances, police cars, the Albanian army, as well as neighboring countries trying to help was the picture of that tragedy, the morning of last November 26. 

First hours were chaotic, as many people under the rubble struggled between life and death, while others also had to deal with the panic caused by the post-tremors. 

The solidarity of brothers, neighbors and friends was not lacking. Kosovo, Italy, Greece, Turkey, France and many other countries brought to Albania search and rescue teams that for days searched under the rubble for the bodies of the victims. 

After a year, the wounds are still not healed. Durrës and Thumana were the most affected regarding the number of deaths. Other affected municipalities that had serious consequences are that of Tirana, Kruja, Kurbin, Lezha, Rrogozhina, Kamza, Kavaja, Shijak.

Traces of November 26's earthquake are in the memory of everyone, who today after a year remembers that life and death are separated by a few seconds.