Heavy rainfall and high water flows overnight have caused protective dikes in Sarandë to burst this Saturday, triggering severe flooding in the villages of Çukë, Konispol, and Shalës.

Aerial footage shows fields completely submerged, while homes and agricultural infrastructure face serious damage. The flooding has devastated livestock and crops, with over 500 heads of cattle and sheep drowned, according to local reports. Entire barns and farm facilities were destroyed.

The Bistrica dike in Çukë failed overnight, resulting in a major emergency in the region. Water quickly inundated farms and storage facilities, destroying hundreds of tons of corn, animal feed, and farm equipment. Five houses have been flooded, forcing families to evacuate temporarily.

Civil protection authorities report that four shepherds were trapped for hours in a barn with dozens of sheep, but emergency intervention prevented casualties. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as rescue and relief operations are underway.