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Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The city of Vlora commemorated this Saturday the 29th anniversary of the Otranto Tragedy, one of the worst events in modern Albanian history, where 81 people lost their lives.
At a memorial ceremony by the sea, relatives of the victims, local government representatives and citizens placed 81 empty chairs as a symbol of the lives lost. Flowers were also thrown into the sea in memory of the victims.
The activity was organized at the initiative of the Minister of State for Parliamentary Relations and MP for the Vlora region, Erjona Ismaili, who emphasized the importance of collective memory.
"For everyone, this tragedy has left a mark that neither fades nor disappears. We will commemorate them every year. May they be unforgettable. What we can do today is to prevent such tragedies from happening again," Ismaili told "Report TV".
The Mayor of Vlora, Brunilda Mersini, also described this anniversary as a moment of reflection.
"As we walk, the pain walks with us. It will always be difficult to talk about the tragedy of Otranto," she said.
Meanwhile, the victims' families again expressed disappointment at the lack of justice, describing the incident as deliberate and the judicial process as unfair.
"This tragedy was created intentionally. Today, the family members face psychological violence... The Italian court's decision was unjust. The trial is closed, but a human crime is not closed," said one of them.
Another family member highlighted the lack of institutional attention over the years: "They will remain unforgettable for us. The state built the cemeteries back then, now they have forgotten them."
The Otranto tragedy occurred on March 28, 1997, when an Albanian ship with 142 people on board was rammed and capsized in the Otranto Channel by the Italian ship “Sibila.” As a result, 81 people, including children, who were trying to leave Albania during a period of unrest for a better life, lost their lives.
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