Albanian government has announced on Monday a day of national mourning as a sign of pain for the thousands of people who lost their lives in the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. 

While appreciating Turkey for helping Albania when our country faced a similar tragedy in 2019, when 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit Albania, PM Rama asked citizens to light a candle for thousand of victims claimed by Turkey's deadly quake.

"Albanian Government has decided that Monday, February 13, will be a National Mourning Day as a sign of pain and prayer for the victims of the great tragedy of the earthquake on the Turkish-Syrian border, as well as a sign of solidarity with our friend Turkey, which helped us when a similar disaster struck Albania a while ago. The lowering of the national flag at half-mast and the lighting of a candle by everyone feeling it will be the meaningful signs of a Monday marked by human pain and popular solidarity that transcends our borders", stated Rama.

Until now over 23k victims were claimed by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, while around 70k people were injured.