Over the past three decades, floods in Albania have caused an estimated $2.5 billion in economic damage, yet not a single senior official from the institutions responsible for flood risk management and hydraulic infrastructure maintenance has been held accountable before the justice system. This alarming conclusion comes from a detailed report by the Supreme State Audit (KLSH), which paints a bleak picture of systemic institutional failure at both central and local levels.
The report, prepared following an audit of the 2024 floods in the city of Vlora, highlights long-standing neglect, poor coordination, and ineffective flood risk management policies. According to KLSH, Albania’s experience with floods is not the result of isolated natural disasters, but rather the consequence of decades of mismanagement, weak enforcement of laws, and lack of institutional responsibility—problems made even more dangerous in the era of climate change.
A Chain Failure from Central to Local Institutions
The KLSH report identifies a chain failure involving multiple institutions, from the Ministry of Agriculture to local enterprises responsible for maintaining embankments, pumping stations, irrigation systems, and drainage canals. One of the most striking findings is that drainage canals have not been properly maintained for decades, severely reducing their capacity to manage heavy rainfall and overflow.
This neglect directly contradicts Albania’s Civil Protection Law, which obliges state institutions to prevent, mitigate, and manage natural risks—especially in light of increasing climate-related extreme weather events. Instead, the report finds that flood risk management has been largely reactive rather than preventive, with interventions occurring only after disasters strike.
Illegal Construction: A Hidden Driver of Flood Risk
One of the most dangerous contributors to Albania’s flood vulnerability is illegal construction. According to the KLSH audit, 3,285 illegal structures have been built within irrigation, drainage, and flood protection infrastructure. These constructions obstruct water flow, weaken embankments, and significantly increase the likelihood of flooding during heavy rainfall.
The report makes clear that this phenomenon is not accidental. It reflects years of weak oversight, selective enforcement of the law, and institutional tolerance, which have allowed private interests to override public safety. In many cases, structures were built directly on canals, riverbeds, or protective embankments, turning natural flood defenses into risk multipliers.
A Long History of Devastating Floods in Albania
Since 1990, Albania has experienced at least eight major flood events, each leaving behind widespread destruction and human suffering. The most significant floods occurred in:
- 1995
- 2002, 2004, 2005
- 2010–2011 (particularly severe in Shkodra)
- 2015
- 2017
- 2021 and 2024, affecting Lezha, Shkodra, and Vlora
Across these events, thousands of families were affected, hundreds of homes were destroyed, and thousands of hectares of agricultural land were submerged. Beyond the immediate damage, floods have also had long-term social and economic consequences, including loss of livelihoods, migration, and deepening inequality in rural areas.
Almost No Justice for Massive Damage
Despite the enormous human and financial cost, Albanian justice institutions have initiated only two investigations related to flood disasters over the past 30 years. The investigation into the 2010 Shkodra floods was eventually dismissed, while a more recent investigation launched by the Durrës Prosecutor’s Office following the latest floods remains ongoing—with no identified suspects to date.
This lack of accountability, according to KLSH, sends a dangerous message: massive institutional negligence can occur without legal consequences. As a result, the same failures are repeated year after year, while public funds continue to be spent on emergency responses rather than long-term prevention.
Climate Change Makes the Crisis More Urgent
The KLSH report stresses that Albania’s flood risk is now amplified by climate change, which has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Heavy rainfall episodes are becoming more common, and outdated infrastructure is no longer capable of handling modern climate realities.
Without urgent reform, the report warns, Albania will continue to pay an ever-growing economic and social price. Prevention, maintenance, and institutional coordination are no longer optional—they are essential for national security and sustainable development.
What Needs to Change
The Supreme State Audit calls for immediate action, including:
- Clear institutional accountability for flood risk management
- Regular maintenance of drainage and irrigation systems
- Strict enforcement against illegal construction
- Improved coordination between central and local authorities
- A shift from emergency response to preventive risk management
Most importantly, the report emphasizes the need for legal responsibility, arguing that without consequences, institutional failure will remain the norm rather than the exception.
Conclusion: A Heavy Price Paid by Citizens
For over 30 years, Albania has paid a $2.5 billion bill for floods that were, in many cases, preventable. The KLSH report makes one thing clear: this is not merely a natural disaster problem, but a governance crisis.
As floods continue to devastate communities from Shkodra to Vlora, the question remains unanswered: who is responsible? Until accountability becomes a reality, Albania risks repeating the same costly cycle—at the expense of its citizens, economy, and future.