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Residents of Voskop demand urgent intervention in the Lavdar River: Erosion and sediment from rainfall

2026-05-04 11:09:00, Sociale CNA

Residents of Voskop demand urgent intervention in the Lavdar River: Erosion and

The consequences of the intense rainfall of November and December continue to be a serious concern for the residents of the village of Voskop in Korça, where traces of flooding are still visible along the Lavdar riverbed.

Damaged protective walls, collapsed concrete structures, stones and inert materials scattered along the entire length of the river, as well as pronounced erosion of the banks, are the panorama that the inhabitants of this area face every day. In many segments, the lateral protection of the river has been severely damaged, while the presence of waste and materials accumulated in the water flow significantly increases the risk of its blockage, adding to the fear of further flooding in the event of heavy rainfall.

Residents of Voskop demand urgent intervention in the Lavdar River: Erosion and

The situation is considered particularly alarming for dozens of families living near the river and who have been living with the fear that history could repeat itself for years. Memories of previous floods, especially those of 1991, remain vivid for residents, who report that water has penetrated their homes, causing extensive material damage and flooding agricultural lands.

According to residents, intervention by the local government has been limited. They say the last cleaning of the river was carried out in November and no other intervention has been carried out since then, despite the damage caused by the recent rainfall in December.

Residents of Voskop demand urgent intervention in the Lavdar River: Erosion and

"The last intervention made by the municipality was in November, just a cleaning, that's all. The river is coming, it's taking us all, it's taking us to Dunavec. We're afraid, the river will take us. It's an alarming situation, urgent intervention is needed. The Lavdar River passes through here. This is the most dangerous in Albania. The big guys know it. The last December rains brought this situation. It's very difficult. They're doing it to us because we can't do it with a shovel. In this neighborhood that's at risk, there are almost 40 houses. The river is taking our lands, we have agricultural lands, it's ruining them," says a resident.

Residents of this neighborhood say their greatest fear is related to the possibility of a flash flood at night, when it becomes even more difficult to respond. They say that every intense rainfall is accompanied by anxiety and uncertainty.

Residents of Voskop demand urgent intervention in the Lavdar River: Erosion and

"The recent rains have destroyed it, from the embankments to the very end. This river is very dangerous. In '91 it came out and entered the houses and drowned the entire field. The Lavdar River passes here and joins the Gjonomadhi River. The Lavdar River is very dangerous. We appeal to the municipality, we also appeal to God. This neighborhood has 40 houses, but 10 families here are the most at risk. It entered my room in '91, the same situation could happen again," says a resident.

For the elderly, memories of the floods of past years still remain fresh and serve as a warning of what could happen if concrete measures are not taken.

"It's completely destroyed. I haven't been here, I've been in exile, but I was told that the last autumn rains destroyed it. The residents live in fear, it's a river, they don't know. If it overflows, it will drown you. The municipality should maintain the river, deepen it, manage it," emphasizes a resident.

Meanwhile, residents also raise concerns about the quality of previous interventions, which they say have been temporary and ineffective.

"We feel threatened by the river. When it rains a lot, it floods, it comes all the way here. They fix it the first year and the second year it breaks down. That's how they do it. The work is poor. Those who have houses down here are more at risk," said the resident of the area.

In addition to the risk to homes, the damage is also directly affecting the residents' household economy, as a significant portion of agricultural land is located near the river and any overflowing of its bed brings great losses.

Residents of Voskop demand urgent intervention in the Lavdar River: Erosion and

Residents demand immediate intervention from the responsible institutions for the complete systematization of the riverbed, the strengthening of the lateral protection and the cleaning of accumulated materials. For them, the solution can no longer be a temporary intervention, but a sustainable investment that will avoid the repetition of dramatic scenes and will provide security to dozens of families who live every day under the threat of floods./CNA