The district of Shkodër in northern Albania has been severely affected by widespread flooding following intense rainfall on Sunday morning. Several areas have been completely inundated, with reports confirming that more than 100 homes and hundreds of hectares of agricultural land have been submerged under water. The flooding, triggered by the overflow of the Glinë stream in Vau i Dejës, has caused significant material damage and disruption to local communities, according to A2 News reports.
Vau i Dejës: Glinë Stream Overflows, Threatening Infrastructure
In Vau i Dejës, one of the hardest-hit municipalities, the Glinë stream burst its banks, flooding homes, fields, and roads. The situation is particularly concerning near the home of farmer Dedë Smakaj, where a high-voltage power pole—which supplies electricity to much of the area—is at risk of collapse due to severe soil erosion caused by the rushing water.
Local authorities have raised alarms over the imminent threat this poses to both public safety and electricity supply. The Mayor of Vau i Dejës, Kristian Shkreli, stated that he has repeatedly requested funding for a protective investment project to reinforce the banks of the Glinë stream. However, despite numerous appeals, the project has never been financed, leaving the community vulnerable to recurring floods.
Transportation Disruptions Across the Region
The heavy rains have also caused major transportation issues across the Shkodër region. In the Gur i Zi administrative unit, floodwaters from the overflowing stream have made travel difficult along the Shkodër–Vau i Dejës road, one of the main routes connecting the city to surrounding areas.
Similarly, water accumulation has been reported near the Bërdicë arch and Kryebushat, along the Shkodër–Tirana highway, leading to dangerous driving conditions and occasional road closures. Authorities have urged drivers to exercise caution, as several low-lying areas remain partially submerged.
Landslides and Blocked Roads in Surrounding Municipalities
The bad weather has not spared other municipalities in northern Albania. The regions of Malësi e Madhe, Pukë, and Fushë Arrëz are also facing severe challenges due to landslides and road blockages caused by debris and loose soil. In some rural areas, entire roads have been rendered impassable, isolating small communities and delaying the transport of essential goods.
Local emergency services, supported by the Civil Protection Agency, are currently working to clear the blocked roads and assist affected families. However, continuous rainfall has slowed down the recovery efforts, and authorities remain on high alert for possible additional landslides or river overflows in the coming hours.
Authorities Call for Urgent Infrastructure Investment
The recent flooding has reignited the debate over infrastructure resilience and preventive investment in flood-prone areas of northern Albania. Mayor Kristian Shkreli emphasized that the lack of investment in riverbank protection and drainage systems has left local communities dangerously exposed to natural disasters.
Experts have long warned that the Shkodër plain, due to its low elevation and proximity to major water bodies like Lake Shkodër and the Drin River, remains one of the most flood-vulnerable regions in the Balkans. Without a strategic long-term plan for flood defense, the area faces recurring economic losses and environmental degradation every rainy season.
Environmental and Economic Impact
Beyond the immediate destruction, the floods have caused severe economic losses to local farmers, many of whom depend on small-scale agriculture as their main livelihood. Flooded fields mean lost crops, damaged livestock shelters, and contaminated soil, all of which will take months to recover.
Environmentalists have also expressed concern over the erosion of fertile land and the pollution of waterways, which could have lasting effects on the region’s ecosystem. The overflow of the Glinë stream and other smaller rivers has likely carried waste and debris into nearby agricultural zones and possibly into Lake Shkodër, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the Balkans.
Community Resilience Amid Crisis
Despite the devastation, the people of Shkodër have once again shown remarkable solidarity and resilience. Local volunteers, farmers, and emergency crews are working tirelessly to pump out water, reinforce weakened embankments, and assist families displaced by the floods. Social media has been flooded with images of rescue operations and calls for donations to support the affected communities.
As the rain continues and the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, one thing is clear: the Shkodër floods are yet another reminder of the urgent need for sustainable water management and climate adaptation in Albania. Without decisive action, such natural disasters will only grow in frequency and intensity in the years to come.