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30 years since the Prespa tragedy/ Families of the 13 students who lost their lives: Reopen the case, we want justice

2026-05-07 12:23:00, Sociale CNA

30 years since the Prespa tragedy/ Families of the 13 students who lost their

Three decades after one of the worst tragedies to mark the country's history, the pain of the families of the 13 students who lost their lives in Lake Prespa still remains fresh, while the demand for justice and a full investigation into the incident continues without a final answer.

The tragic event occurred on May 7, 1996, when a school excursion from Starova, Pogradec, turned into a national tragedy. 13 students and their teacher lost their lives in the waters of Lake Prespa, after the boat they were on capsized during the trip. The event shocked public opinion and left a deep scar on the families and the community.

30 years since the Prespa tragedy/ Families of the 13 students who lost their

Today, 30 years later, the victims' families say the pain has not subsided and they have still not received full answers about the circumstances of the tragedy. They demand that the case be reopened and investigated to the end, stressing that the lack of justice has prolonged their suffering over the years.

Shpresa Berberi, the mother of student Enkelejda Berberi, painfully recounts the day that changed her life forever. She says that her daughter was only 15 years old and that she initially did not want to allow her on the field trip.

"I was 15 years old, first year. I didn't want to let her go, but she left with her friends. I waited for her all night, until morning. Then I received the terrible news that the girl was no more. Everything was lost in that moment. They brought her back later, but that image never fades from my mind. We have been seeking justice all our lives, but we still haven't received an answer," says the victim's mother.

30 years since the Prespa tragedy/ Families of the 13 students who lost their

Even Hava Latollari, Arti Latollari's mother, painfully remembers the moments of that day and the consequences they left behind.

"We sent the children to school for a field trip, not to lose them. There are no words to describe what we have been through. For 30 years we have sought justice, we have knocked on the doors of institutions, but we have still not found a solution. We are 14 mothers living with the same wound," she says.

The family members emphasize that beyond the personal pain, the matter still remains completely unclear to them and demand that the responsible institutions return attention to the event, clarify every circumstance, and provide a full legal and moral response.

They add that over the past 30 years they have felt neglected and that the lack of a final solution has deepened the families' pain. /CNA