Agron Dragaj Photography

Albania

GRDEC EXPLOSION

15th March 2008 Gerdec Albania

Huge explosion stroke village of Gerdec 20 km north of Tirana. Five consecutive blasts were heard also in Kosova, Macedonia and Greece.

A year ago as a part of ammunition decommission campaign started, Ministry of Defence and the government of albania contracted an US based private company SACI to start decommission of artillery shells remaining of some 100 tons of expired ammunition. however as the tragedy claimed 26 lives and while 300 were injured, controversy about the location, contracts and the methodology used to dismantle ammunition remains to be revealed yet as the investigation is continuing. Amid ongoing investigation by Tirana's chief persecutor Ina Rama, allegations that also in the depot underage children have been employed is adding further believe that entire process hasn't been according to minimum safety standards. Decommissioning workshop was suited in the middle of Gerdec urban area.

Four villages have been affected by the blast and some 4,000 people have been evacuated from the area as the search, rescue and clearing operation is ongoing. Thousand hectare of land has been infested with unexploded and exploded ordinances while some three hundred has been cleared and marked by Albanian Army special forces and engineers.

Gerdec, Albania 16 march 2008Bujar Picarri looks away amidst destroyed furniture and broken windows of his house caused by explosion of the ammunition depot in village of Gerdec on the 15th march 2008 have taken some 21 lives while more than 300 people were injured and 2,800 homes were destroyed
  
Vore, Albania.Gonxhe Picarri standing on the doorsteps of the destroyed house. Her house is suited four kilometers from the explosion.
   
Gerdec, AlbaniaInjured man Denis Vuka, accompanied by his relatives on his way to Gerdec after he received medical attention in Tirana hospital. Denis was on his way back to what was left of his home to collect what could be saved. Some 21 people have been confirmed to have died from the blast while 300 people were injured. 2,800 houses have been damaged of which 318 were completely 200 partially and some 1,600 slightly damaged.
     
  
Gerdec, AlbaniaInjured man Denis Vuka on his way to Gerdec after he received medical attention in Tirana hospital. Denis was on his way back to what was left of his home to collect what could be saved. Some 21 people have been confirmed to have died from the blast while 300 people were injured. 2,800 houses have been damaged of which 318 were completely 200 partially and some 1,600 slightly damaged.
  
Vore, AlbaniaA women cleaning a shop after the explosion.
   
a young boy sitting near his bike while his father stands on the gate which is blown away from the explosion. Material damage caused by the explosion of ammunition depot in Gerdec it is estimated to be some 400 million USD.
     
  
Gerdec, Albania.
   
Gerdec, AlbaniaTwo man pass by the pieces of the big calibar ammunition on the main road to Gerdec.
   
Gerdec, Albania.Unexploded pieces of ammunition on the fields some four kilometers away from the impact zone.
     
  
Gerdec, AlbaniaGroup of Gerdec residents leaving their village with few belongings.Despite the fact that villages of Gerdec have been declared by the Albanian goovernment as a Danger zone, many people tried to return to their homes and collect whatever was left in their homes.
  
Gerdec, Albania,Elderly man arguing with security forces wanting to go to the village to assess the damage of his house. Police officers were trying to explain to residents that moving in the area is still dangerous as unexploded ammunition is scattered in radius of four kilometers from the impact zone.
   
Vore, AlbaniaAlbanian soldier guarding abandoned house in order to prevent possible looting.
     
  
Gerdec, Albania.Albanian special forces liutenant Ermal Jupa marking areas where shells are found.
   
Gerdec, AlbaniaAlbanian special forces liutenant Ermal Jupa extracting the shell found near residential area.
   
Gerdec, AlbaniaSpecial unit soldier carrying unexploded shell.
     
  
Vore, AlbaniaFew hundred people of four affected villages blocked the main highway Tirana- Durres to protest agains the government claiming their resignation.
  
Vore, Albaniaa young boy looks protestors through a windshield of a mini bus. A complete standstill of the traffic endured four hours before the protestors agreed to re-open the highway.
   
     
  
Vorre, AlbaniaSituation became tensed when on vehicle tried to cross through the crowd.A traffic police officer trying to calm down a situation.
   
Vore, AlbaniaA protestor arguing with the police officer.few hundred people decided to block main highway Tirana- Durres for several hours demanding resignation of the current government and bring responsible for the explosion in front of justice.
  
Vore, Albania
     
  
Gerdec, Albania.